Mets lose heartbreaker to Cubs after controversial play at plate for final out: ‘Wrong call’

For eight innings, the Mets grew frustrated with bats that would not awaken. 

For the final inning, the frustration was redirected to a ruling from the MLB Replay Center that “cost us a game,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. 

Pete Alonso was thrown out at the plate in a chaotic finish to a 1-0 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday at Citi Field, where 22,485 fans, one manager and one clubhouse were upset at the league’s interpretation of what constitutes blocking the plate. 

MLB teams were sent memos, pictures included, this spring concerning the league’s push to enforce base obstruction.

Those memos, Mendoza said, told catchers that they could not have their foot on the plate without possession of the ball. 

Down one run and mounting a rare threat, with runners on second and third in the ninth, Jeff McNeil lifted a fly ball to medium-depth left field.