The New York Mets' defensive struggles continued Monday when a routine single turned into a Little League home run for George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays. The play, which contributed to the Mets' 2-1 loss, involved a misplay by outfielder Juan Soto and a subsequent fumble by first baseman A.J. Ewing.
Springer's bloop single to left field should have been a simple base hit. However, Soto misjudged the ball, allowing it to go past him toward the wall. Ewing then attempted to field the ball after it bounced off the wall, but he dropped it while trying to transfer it to his hand, enabling Springer to round the bases and score.
The official scorer ruled the play a triple with an error charged to Ewing, preventing Springer from being credited with a home run. A home run would have been Springer's 66th of the season.
The incident added to the frustration of Mets fans, who have seen the team commit six errors in a single game and fire their manager in recent days. The team has now lost nine of its last 10 games. Social media commentary reflected the fan base's disappointment, with some users criticizing the play and the team's overall performance.
