Atlanta Braves outfielder Ramon Laureano made several errors during the team’s 3-2 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday night. After the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t mince words when talking about how crucial one particular error was.
In the top of the tenth inning, the Braves attempted to score a run on a bunt, but Laureano, the runner on third base at the time, decided to run to home plate before the bunt was made.
The Mets played it to perfection, throwing and catching Laureano on a rundown, and eventually getting him out for the second out of the inning.
Squeeze play backfires for the Braves!
Both teams exchanged a few words after the clash between Ramón Laureano and Francisco Álvarez photo.twitter.com/hB4ncWC9r5
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 26, 2024
Laureano’s second error ended up costing the Braves the game, as he overshot a Jeff McNeil fly ball, leading to the winning run crossing the plate for the Mets.
RAMON LAUREANO THROWS IT AND THE METS WIN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! image.twitter.com/CVFtfC4BLq
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 26, 2024
The former National League Manager of the Year was asked about both errors after the game. The baserunning error, which Snitker called “unacceptable,” particularly frustrated him.
“I don’t know what that was,” Snitker said. “Honestly … You’ll have to ask him. He didn’t have anything on. We don’t normally bunt in that situation, but he was trying to score a run. We had two pretty good hitters up front. That’s unacceptable.”
“I don’t know what that was. You’ll have to ask him. That’s unacceptable.”
Brian Snitker on Ramon Laureano’s baserunning error in the top of the 10th inning image.twitter.com/ZZAvDMH8zA
— Bally Sports Sur (@BallySportsSO) July 26, 2024
He was much less upset by Laureano’s fielding error, calling it “unfortunate.”
“Yeah, he just ran a long way to get it,” Snitker said. “It’s unfortunate.”
As expected, reporters also asked Laureano about both errors after the game. As for the baserunning error, he admitted that he believed there was a crash play.
“Yeah, they called a pitchout,” Laureano said. “It was a good strategy. I thought there was a safety squeeze. Yeah, I don’t know what happened.”
“I went over the line, but I should have caught the ball. There are no excuses. I let the team down today, no doubt.”
Ramón Laureano evaluates his performance during the first game against the Mets photo.twitter.com/r3VxS6jnNb
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) July 26, 2024
It’s pretty rare for a coach to so directly criticize a player for his mistakes. But at least in this case, Snitker apparently believed his player’s mistake was serious enough to be publicly addressed in his postgame press conference.
This could also be a sign of frustration on the part of Snitker and the Braves organization in general, as it was their fifth consecutive loss.
(Bally Sports Braves on X)
