Twins Edge Mets In Extra Innings As Controversial Call Sparks Outrage
Twins Edge Mets In Extra Innings As Controversial Call Sparks Outrage...
The Minnesota Twins defeated the New York Mets 5-4 in a 10-inning thriller Wednesday night, but the game's ending was overshadowed by a disputed umpire's call that left fans and players furious. The pivotal moment came when home plate umpire Dan Bellino ruled Mets baserunner Francisco Lindor out on a questionable tag at home plate, ending New York's potential game-winning rally in the bottom of the 9th.
Wednesday's game at Citi Field drew national attention as both teams entered with strong early-season records. The Twins (14-8) and Mets (13-9) are both leading their respective divisions, adding significance to the interleague matchup. The controversial call immediately trended on social media, with #RoboUmpsNow trending on Twitter as fans debated the need for expanded replay review.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was ejected after a heated argument with Bellino following the call. "We had the game won twice tonight," Mendoza told reporters postgame. "That call took the bat out of our hands when we had all the momentum." Replay reviews showed Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers may have missed the tag on Lindor's left hand as he slid home.
The Twins capitalized in the 10th when Carlos Correa drove in the automatic runner with a sacrifice fly. Mets closer Edwin DĂaz, making his first appearance since returning from injury, took the loss despite striking out the side in the inning. Minnesota's bullpen combined for 4.1 scoreless innings, with Jhoan Duran earning the save.
MLB's replay center in New York confirmed the call stood due to "inconclusive evidence," a ruling that drew boos from the Citi Field crowd of 32,417. The Mets have now lost three straight, while the Twins extended their winning streak to five games. Both teams meet again Thursday afternoon in the series finale.
The controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of MLB's replay review system. Last week, Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged the league is considering expanding replay for certain calls, including checked swings. Wednesday's game marked the third time this season a Mets game has ended with a disputed call.
Fans on both sides expressed frustration with the outcome. "This is exactly why people are losing patience with baseball," tweeted former MLB pitcher Brandon McCarthy. The game's official time was 3 hours 42 minutes, with the 9th-inning delay for review lasting nearly 8 minutes.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli defended the outcome. "These are bang-bang plays," Baldelli said. "We'll take the win however it comes." The Twins improved to 5-1 in extra-inning games this season, while the Mets fell to 1-3.
With both teams positioned as early playoff contenders, Wednesday's game could have postseason implications. The Mets now trail Atlanta by 1.5 games in the NL East, while the Twins lead Cleveland by 2 games in the AL Central. Thursday's series finale features Minnesota's Pablo López against New York's José Quintana in a noon ET start.
