Mets Looking Forward To Expanded Replay Following Controversial Loss

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – The Mets lost a heartbreaker on Wednesday afternoon.

Playing against the division-rival Braves in the final game of a two-game series, the game was tied, 1-1, heading into the 10th inning.

In that frame, the Braves benefited from a disputed call at first base.

Andrelton Simmons singled off Scott Atchison (3-2) with two outs, and Freddie Freeman hit a two-strike grounder that ticked off the bottom of Scott Rice’s glove and rolled behind him. The reliever retrieved the ball and fired to first, where Freeman was called safe.

Mets manager Terry Collins came out to argue with umpire Jerry Layne. Johnson then launched a drive to left field on Greg Burke’s first big league pitch since he was recalled from the minors Sunday. The Mets didn’t score in the bottom of the 10th and lost, 4-1. Both Collins and second baseman Daniel Murphy were tossed.

Replays later showed that Layne missed the call.

If instant replay was expanded, as it’s expected to be next season, the call would have been reversed and the Amazin’s would have had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom half of the inning.

“It’s pretty funny, because when I went to the mound right after the call, that was the first thing Justin Turner said,” Collins said in regard to expanded replay making games fairer. “He said, ‘Next year, we’ll find out whether or not the call was right.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, well that doesn’t help us today.’”

Jon Niese, who pitched seven brilliant innings of one-run ball, was disappointed that his team was on the wrong end of a controversial call. The left-hander can’t wait for expanded video replay to be instituted.

“It’s tough,” Niese said. “Obviously (if) we were playing next year we wouldn’t be in that situation. That’s the beauty of replay and how necessary it is. It is what it is. (Layne) made the call, and we just got to get over it and come back after the off-day.”

The Mets will kick off a three-game series against the American League Central-leading Tigers on Friday night at Citi Field.

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