Mcneil hit, gift call key win by Mets
NEW YORK — With fans at Citi Field for the first time in 557 days, Michael Conforto and the New York Mets got some home cooking. Even the umpire knew it.
Jeff Mcneil launched a tying homer in the ninth inning on his 29th birthday, and the Mets were handed the winning run on a disputed hit by pitch for a bizarre 3-2 victory over Miami in their home opener Thursday.
“We caught a little break,” Mcneil said.
With the bases loaded and one out, a scuffling Conforto stuck out his right elbow pad just enough to get grazed by a 1-and-2 breaking ball from Marlins closer Anthony Bass that appeared to be in the strike zone.
Plate umpire and crew chief Ron Kulpa at first signaled strike and then ruled Conforto was hit by the pitch. Conforto headed to first base as Luis Guillorme scored and the Mets celebrated.
“It’s just a strike. Kind of that simple,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “You would think all the replay we do, that you could say that ball’s a strike.”
Mattingly and his players argued with Kulpa before the umps went to a replay review that lasted 58 seconds. The call was upheld.
■ Red Sox 7, Orioles 3: At Baltimore, Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) won in his return from heart inflammation that caused him to miss the 2020 season, allowing three runs over five innings. Boston won a fourth straight game for the first time since Aug. 14-18, 2019.
■ Cardinals 3, Brewers 1:
At St. Louis, Nolan Arenado hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning of his home debut with St. Louis. Corbin Burnes shut out the Cardinals on one hit, a leadoff triple, and struck out nine over six innings.
■ White Sox 6, Royals 0:
At Chicago, Lance Lynn (1-0) pitched a five-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks for the majors’ first complete game and shutout this season. The shutout was Lynn’s second in 238 career starts and first since 2014.
■ Rockies 7, Diamondbacks 3: At Denver, Jon Gray (10) took a no-hit bid into the seventh, ultimately allowing one run on two hits in 62/3 innings, and Trevor Story had an RBI double and an RBI triple in the first two innings.
■ Cubs 4, Pirates 2: At Pittsburgh, Javy Baez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth for Chicago. Bonanza product Kris Bryant homered off Spring Valley product Tyler Anderson (0-2) for the second time in six days.
■ Twins 10, Mariners 2:
At Minneapolis, Mitch Garver, Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez homered to back Jose Berrios (2-0), who allowed two runs and struck out eight in 52/3 innings.
■ Astros 6, Athletics 2:
At Houston, Carlos Correa, Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve homered for Houston (6-1), which tied its best seven-game start — with five wins over Oakland.
■ Angels 7, Blue Jays 5: At Dunedin, Fla., David Fletcher hit a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the 11th for Los Angeles.