New York Mets rookie infielder, Jeff McNeil had a game to remember Saturday night, putting up a 4-for-4 effort against the Atlanta Braves.
Not much has gone right for the New York Mets this season. Injuries have hung over yet another season, the team and fans seem unsure about whether they can contend next year (ESNY’s Robby Sabo says they can’t), and the offense has struggled once again.
The Mets have been unable to do anything offensively. In addition to ranking 28 in runs scored, the team ranks dead last in batting average entering play on Aug. 5. The team has been looking for anything to get their offense going.
Saturday night, rookie Jeff McNeil gave them a sliver of hope for the future, as he managed to put up a 4-for-4 night. He smacked three singles and added in a double for good measure.
4⃣-for-4⃣! @JeffMcNeil805 had himself a night! pic.twitter.com/dRQL7lx8PR
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 5, 2018
His first hit came in the second, and it was his double. He drove the first pitch, which was on the outside corner, to the opposite field over the head of left fielder Ronald Acuna and pulled in to second with a double, advancing Todd Frazier from first to third.
His second hit came leading off the fourth inning. He bounced a 1-2 pitch up the middle that Dansby Swanson fielded but bobbled on the transfer. It probably could have been ruled an error, but it would have been a close throw and so McNeil got the benefit of the doubt from the official scorer.
He next came up with runners on first and second and nobody out in the sixth inning, pulling a 2-2 pitch into left field. However, the ball got to Nick Markakis so fast that Michael Conforto was forced to hold up at third.
He finished off his impressive offensive night but taking a leadoff pitch from lefty Max Fried and smacking a single past a diving Ozzie Albies at second base. He was up with one out in the eighth inning and nobody on base.
McNeil, who plays similarly to former fan favorite Daniel Murphy, is hitting .310 through his first 29 at-bats, adding in one home run. Early in his career, he’s showing signs that he’s capable of being the second baseman moving forward.
