MIAMI — In yet another biggest game of the season, the Mets were dealt a blow quickly.
Clinging to a playoff spot for Game 160, the Mets only played one-and-a-half innings against the Marlins with third baseman Brett Baty.
He was lifted before the bottom of the second with what the club called right side soreness.
In his first-inning at-bat, Baty swung through a pitch from Sandy Alcántara, grimaced and began stretching his side.
He remained in the game and grounded out.
He then took the field for the bottom of the first and threw across the diamond for the frame’s final out.
After the throw, Baty was seen grimacing again and disappeared into the tunnel, soon replaced on the field by Ronny Mauricio.
A loss of Baty would be significant for a team that has barely played Mauricio and has not been able to afford to play Mark Vientos much at third because of his defensive issues.
In what has been a breakthrough season for the former top prospect, Baty has been a solid defender at third and second base, owns a .748 OPS with 18 home runs in 130 games and has emerged as the starting third baseman.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
