You have a base open. You have a runner on third. You have the best hitter on the team, Bryan De La Cruz, up next and a guy named Lewin Diaz who’s hitting .108 on the on deck circle. Oh, it’s the bottom of the tenth. It seems like every manager from little league to the majors easily makes this call.

Walk De La Cruz.

But that’s precisely what did not happen and like clockwork in Luis Rojas‘ tenuous tenure as Mets manager, De La Cruz smacked a ball off the center field wall and  Jazz Chisholm Jr. ,who was the automatic runner to begin the frame, trotted home with the game-winning run in a crushing 2-1 Marlins win.

In the top of the inning, another head-scratcher took place as Rojas pinch hit for James McCann using light hitting Patrick Mazeika instead with Michael Conforto on third and two outs. Mazeika dribbled out harmlessly to the pitcher.

It goes down as just another winnable Mets game that goes into the loss column, with New York now back to .500 at 70-70. They are 9-4 in their last 13 playing just the Marlins and the Washington Nationals.

The story of the game (beyond the questionable calls) was Marlins’ starter and ace, Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara tallied double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his past four starts, finishing with a career-high 14 across nine innings of one-run ball. He also notched seven K’s of at least 99 mph. He had the Mets off-balance for most of the game and pitched brilliantly. His ERA was lowered to an impressive 3.24.

41 year old Rich Hill started for the Mets and pitched an effective six innings allowing only one run on five hits with eight strikeouts.

Miami took the lead in the second inning on a single by Alex Jackson that deflected off of Francisco Lindor. De La Cruz scored to make it 1-0.

The Mets tied it in the seventh on a solo homerun off the bat of Conforto. It was Michael’s 12th four-bagger of the year and it tied things up 1-1.

The Marlins scratched and clawed getting 10 hits in the game (to the Mets four), but couldn’t get the big hit until the tenth inning. Miami finished 2-for-9 with RISP and left 11 on base. In fact the game nearly did not reach extras as Seth Lugo had to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the tie.

The game in fact did make it extras and that’s when the managerial decision making caused bemusement from Twitter to Toms River and well beyond as the Mets fell to 7-7 against the N.L. East bottom dwellers.

Anthony Bender got the win in relief for Miami to improve his record to 3-2. Edwin Diaz, who’s had a tough road trip, suffered the loss and is now 5-6.

Player of the Game

By default, it has to be Michael Conforto as this space is limited to only New York Mets players. He did blast his 12th homer of the year off an Alcantra change-up. But on the flip side, he struck out three times and left two runners on base. Conforto has made better contact of late but he still has an ugly .221 BA.

The Mets conclude their visit to loanDepot Park in Miami and their road trip with the final game of the three game set with the Marlins. Marcus Stroman (9-12, 2.93 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets. He will oppose Jesus Luzardo (5-7, 7.00ERA). The game starts at 6:40 and it will be broadcast on WPIX locally and on the radio, WCBS-880 AM.

The Mets are not done with the Marlins in the 2021 season. Miami returns to Citi Field for a four game set on Septermber 28-30, with the 28th a single-admission doubleheader .

As for the more immediate future, the Mets return home this weekend for what will no doubt be an emotional three game series with the Yankees. September 11, 2021 will mark the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks in New York, Washington DC and Shanksville, Pa. Both teams will be involved with a solemn remembrance in the evening game on the 11th which will be televised nationally by Fox.