Jeff McNeil Ejected After Arguing Strike Call in Mets’ Loss to Rangers
Second baseman tossed in fourth inning at Citi Field after protesting a called third strike against Jacob deGrom as Mets continued slump.
Jeff McNeil was ejected from Friday night’s game at Citi Field after erupting over a called third strike, the latest sign of frustration for a New York Mets club in the midst of a losing streak.
The incident occurred in the fourth inning against Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom. McNeil worked back from an 0-2 count to force a full count before deGrom delivered a four-seamer that McNeil believed was low and away. McNeil flipped his bat, took a leap toward first base expecting a walk, and then let out a yell when the pitch was ruled a strike. Home-plate umpire Scott Barry tossed McNeil after the second baseman said something to him from a distance.
McNeil, who had appeared stunned first at the call and then at the ejection, was replaced defensively by Ronny Mauricio. Mauricio entered at third base, which resulted in Brett Baty moving across the diamond to second. At the time of the outburst, the Mets trailed the Rangers 6-3.
New York entered the game amid a six-game losing streak and quickly fell into an early deficit, compounding tensions in the clubhouse and on the field. The ejection removed a veteran presence from the lineup during the middle innings and was one of the flashpoints of a game that saw the Mets trying to halt their slide.
DeGrom’s pitch sequence and the strike call were the proximate triggers for McNeil’s reaction, but the broader context of the team’s recent struggles and the early multi-run hole framed the moment. Barry, the home-plate umpire, enforced the enforcement of balls and strikes with the immediate ejection rather than a warning or an extended exchange.
Manager and clubhouse reactions were not immediately detailed in postgame reports, and McNeil’s status for the next game will depend on internal discussions and any potential discipline arising from the incident. The ejection marked a visible moment of unrest during a game in which the Mets continued to search for answers on both sides of the ball.