Updated Post – 3/30/24, 3:42 PM

The drama between the Mets and Rhys Hoskins bled into Saturday’s game in the seventh inning.

With a runner on first and one out, Hoskins stepped to the plate against Yohan Ramírez, who threw a 94-mile-per-hour fastball behind the Brewers DH on the first pitch of the at-bat.

Ramírez charged toward the plate after the pitch as Francisco Álvarez retrieved the errant pitch. Hoskins, standing behind the umpire, didn’t escalate the situation.

Ramírez was ejected from the game after he threw behind Hoskins. The Brewers were leading the Mets 6-2 before the situation unfolded. Hoskins did the majority of the damage beforehand, driving in two runs in the first with a single, and driving a two-run home run off Severino in the third.

Original Post

For better or worse, the extracurriculars that took place during the Mets’ Opening Day loss at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers have seemingly overshadowed the actual results of the game and simultaneously become a pertinent topic throughout the world of baseball.

With one out and a runner on first in the top of the eighth inning, Willy Adames stepped to the plate as the Brewers held a 3-1 lead. He proceeded to roll one over to Brett Baty at third base, who threw to Jeff McNeil at second base in hopes of turning a double play. It was all for naught, however, as McNeil was slid into by Rhys Hoskins and had the ball jarred from his glove on the transfer, breaking up the play and ending the Mets’ slim chances of turning two.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

McNeil made his disapproval of Hoskins’ slide immediately known as he began to gesture and chastise him as he got up and made his way to the dugout, leading to both benches and bullpens clearing. The jawing between the two sides went on for a few more minutes before the umpiring crew announced that the Mets’ challenge, which called for an illegal slide, was unsuccessful as the result of the play was upheld.

With tensions still running high, McNeil insinuated that he’s taken an issue with some of Hoskins’ slides in the past and that he wasn’t surprised at the turn of events on Friday afternoon.

“We’ve had a little bit of a past, so I knew there was a chance he’d be coming in like that,” McNeil said. “He’s had some pretty questionable slides at second base for sure. Definitely remember looking at some in the past that were definitely not OK.”

Pete Alonso backed up McNeil’s claims, mentioning that Hoskins had enacted similar tactics in the past during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies.

“When he was with Philly, he’s went and gotten Jeff multiple times,” Alonso said. “I know he didn’t really get him that hard or slide into him, but he’s definitely slid past the bag and went and gotten Jeff before. It’s happened a lot in the past.”

Francisco Lindor came to his defense as well, expressing that he noticed Hoskins went into his slide a bit later than normal and that McNeil’s reaction was completely justified as a result.

“He slid straight through the base, but I felt like it was a little late,” Lindor said. “When it comes to Jeff’s reaction, I’m with him 100%. He has every right to react the way he reacted. I will always back him up.”

McNeil also conceded that he wasn’t trying to turn the double play after Baty’s throw was low, which he believes may have saved him from injury.

“He hit me on my right leg, which was well off of the base,” McNeil said. “I’m actually really fortunate that Baty didn’t hit me in the chest. If he hits me in the chest there, that’s one of the ugliest slides because I’m going to try and turn it and be going kind of towards him at the same time.”

McNeil later admitted that it was a legal slide, though he still believed Hoskins was late to the bag and may have crossed a line. Hoskins wasn’t of the same mindset, however, stating that McNeil’s worked up a reputation as someone who complains when it isn’t necessarily warranted and that he believes he was playing the game the right way.

“He just seems to be complaining when things aren’t going well,” McNeil said. “I think that’s kind of one of those moments. Maybe lost in the heat of the game a little bit, but again, I think it’s just playing the game hard and playing the game the right way.”

It remains to be seen whether or not tempers will continue to flare in the second game of the opening series between the two teams on Saturday afternoon, which will air on both SNY and MLB Network as the first pitch is set for 1:40 PM.