Luis Torrens’ bizarre balk blunder costs Mets a run

A mistake by catcher Luis Torrens cost the Mets a run in the bottom of the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Braves in Atlanta. 

Already down 1-0 with runners on second and third, a pitch into the dirt from starter Paul Blackburn forced Torrens to have to slide to block the ball from getting too far away.

Nevertheless, when the Mets backstop hustled over to the ball, he used his mask to stop the ball from rolling further before grabbing it with his glove. 

Braves left fielder Alex Verdugo, who was on third at the time, and third base coach Fredi González quickly noticed the infraction and began pointing in Torrens’ direction to alert the umpires.

The umps called Torrens for breaking MLB Rule 5.06(b)(3)(E), and Verdugo scored as a result, putting the Braves up by two runs. 

The rule is in regard to when “a fielder deliberately touches a pitched ball with his cap, mask or any part of his uniform detached from its proper place on his person.

The ball is in play, and the award is made from the position of the runner at the time the ball was touched.” 

The Braves would go on to score one more run before the first was over after third baseman Austin Riley came in on a sacrifice fly.