Egregious Red Sox Throwing Error Enables Mets’ McNeil to Score on Routine Single

A horrendous throw from Jorge Alfaro resulted in disaster for Boston.

The Red Sox had an early 2–0 lead against the Mets during Saturday’s game, but it vanished in the blink of an eye. During the fourth inning, their two-run lead turned into a one-run deficit as the result of an outrageously errant throw from catcher Jorge Alfaro.

With runners on second and third, New York second baseman Jeff McNeil laced a single up the middle. Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, who was truly booking it down the line, managed to score off the hit, but as McNeil attempted to take second base, the play turned from bad to worse for Boston.

Alfaro’s throw sailed acres wide of shortstop Yu Chang, who was covering second bsae, even getting past center fielder Jarren Duran. The ball rolled into the deep outfield, a bit shy of the warning track.

The Mets pull off a Little League home run (thanks to Boston's throwing error) 👏

(via @Mets) pic.twitter.com/tQKgVwjETO

— SI MLB (@si_mlb) July 23, 2023

By the time the Red Sox were able to recover the ball, McNeil was already rounding third and was able to trot all the way home for an additional run. The Mets dugout was going wild after the bonkers play resulted in them gaining an unexpected lead. 

What would have still been a two-run single for McNeil became much worse for Boston as Alfaro’s attempt to gun out the advancing runner resulted in calamity.