One of the defensive highlights in Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, came in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Mets were trying to preserve their 3-2 lead at the time.
With the tying and winning runs on second and third, Ender Inciarte lifted a deep flyball to left field. Michael Conforto settled underneath the ball and made the catch in foul territory.
The runner on third, Emilio Bonifacio, tagged up and raced home. It looked like the Braves were about to tie the game up.
But Conforto fired an accurate throw to Travis d’Arnaud at the plate, and Bonifacio was called out to complete the inning ending double play and thwart any Atlanta comeback.
It was a tremendous throw by Conforto, but d’Arnaud played it perfectly, blocking the plate with his knee and applying the tag before Bonifacio could sneak in.
“It was a crazy catch,” said d’Arnaud after the game. “To get rid of it that quick and make that strong of a throw was really impressive.”
Braves manager Brian Snitker challenged the play and was quickly ejected when the ruling confirmed the call on the field.
“I knew it was going to be close,” Conforto said. “Incredible play by Travis to catch it on the short hop and then put the tag on him. Really, that was all him. I put the throw there, but he made the play.”
The Braves broadcast booth were screaming holy hell and even Keith Hernandez was stunned that the play was not overturned.
But a careful examination clearly provided little evidence to overturn the out call as Bonifacio avoided a clear and open lane to the plate, and instead slid right into d’Arnaud’s knee which blocked the left side of the plate.
The Braves would eventually win the game 4-3, prompting the Atlanta broadcast booth to celebrate and say that the Baseball Gods intervened and overturned the bad call. “Karma is gonna get you,” one of them exclaimed.
Here’s the play:
