A late Mets rally was cut short in heartbreaking fashion.
With a full count, bottom of the ninth, the Mets trailed the Giants 8-7 with the bases loaded.
It was a perfect chance for New York to snap a three-game losing skid, but in the end, it was denied due to a fantastic play from Giants third baseman Matt Chapman.
Mets up-and-comer Mark Vientos chopped one down the third base line, and Chapman made a barehanded play on the ball, tossing Vientos out at first on a low throw that was scooped out, stopping a tying run from scoring on a breathtaking final play.
It was the Mets’ fourth straight loss and the first of the three-game series.
“I think it’s the most excited I’ve ever gotten after a play,” Chapman said after the game. “To be able to have a walk-off play on defense like that with the bases loaded, game on the line, I think that’s probably the best one, for sure. Kind of surprised myself even a little bit there, so it was just a lot of fun.”
Catcher Patrick Bailey, whose eighth-inning grand slam put the Giants ahead, could not believe the play.
“My goodness, that was one of the best plays I’ve ever seen made on a baseball field,” he said.
The Mets, now losers of nine of the last 11, will look to get righted on Saturday.
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