A failed suicide attempt left the Braves without a golden opportunity Thursday in what ultimately turned into an error-filled extra-inning loss to the Mets.
Outfielder Ramon Laureano, who later overcame Jeff McNeil’s walk-off single in a 3-2 loss, was caught between third base and home plate after Jarred Kelenic failed to attempt to bunt a pitch far out of the zone, resulting in Laureano being tagged for the second out in a tied game in the 10th inning.
“I don’t know what that was, honestly,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said when asked about Laureano’s read. “You’re going to have to ask them. He didn’t have anything. We don’t normally bunt in that situation, but he was trying to score a run, and we had two pretty good hitters coming up, I thought.
“That is unacceptable.”
Laureano and Kelenic attempted the squeeze play apparently on their own with one out and a runner on third base, followed by Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson.
Kelenic faced off before Mets reliever Phil Maton threw the pitch and Maton threw a high, outside pitch that would have been quite difficult, if not impossible, to get a fair bunt on.
However, with a safety squeeze, Kelenic must at least attempt to make contact to prevent his runner from getting stuck in no man’s land, which is exactly what happened.
“I think it’s pretty simple,” Kelenic said, according to MLB.com. “I think I just have to swing the bat. I was trying to do too much. I think that’s all there is to it.”