In the top of the eighth inning, the Mets made a defensive-minded decision to plug in utilityman Joey Wendle at third base as Luis Severino was still holding onto a no-hitter against the Cubs.
However, the “no-brainer” move, opting for Wendle rather over sticking with Mark Vientos or inserting Brett Baty — neither known for his glove — cost them the tying run in what was an eventual 3-1 loss to Chicago on Monday night.
The Cubs’ Michael Busch (29) runs to home plate to score as Nick Madrigal, left, runs to first base during the eighth inning when Mets third baseman Joey Wendle chose not to throw home. AP With one out and runners on third and first, Nick Madrigal hit a ground ball to third base, which Wendle read as a double-play opportunity to end the inning rather than go for the out at home.
He threw to Jeff McNeil at second, forcing Matt Mervis, but Madrigal made it safely to first base and Michael Busch scored to tie the game 1-1.
“I thought we had the opportunity to turn two on the play,” Wendle said after the loss. “Initially, I thought the ball was hit a little bit harder than it was. By that point, I had already set my feet and kind of committed to trying to turn the double play. You know, if you hesitate there and try to do something else, then it doesn’t work.
“Obviously, through the replay, we had him at home. I had an opportunity to get him at home, but I also had an opportunity to, you know, end the inning and that’s the decision I made and unfortunately, the wrong one.”
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expected his star defender to throw home to prevent the tying run, but he still defended his decision.
“Yeah as soon as it happened, I thought he was gonna go home,” Mendoza said. “Obviously, it’s one of those we’re pretty sure he’s gonna go back now and take a look at the film and [it’s] one of those he wishes he had that one back and probably make the decision to go to home plate there.
Joey Wendle Corey Sipkin “That’s his role. His strength is the defense, you know. It’s a no-brainer,” he added of picking Wendle over Baty. “Joey is a pretty good defender.”
Wendle, who the Mets signed to a one-year $2 million deal in November to strengthen their infield, had committed three errors and helped turn three double plays across 25 chances this season prior to Monday.
Two of those errors have come while playing third base, where he has had six defensive chances across 17 innings, while the other was at second base over 16 chances and 42 innings. All three double plays have come from Wendle at second base.
Last year with the Marlins, Wendle had 10 errors and 46 double plays across 335 defensive chances at shortstop.
