Game 1 of the NLDS between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets started out with a bang, as slugger Kyle Schwarber had the sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park on its feet with a leadoff homer in the first inning.
As the game has progressed, however, the balls and strikes called behind home plate emerged as one of the series' biggest storylines.
Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher significantly expanded the strike zone at times on Saturday, perhaps dealing with some shadow issues on the field as Game 1 began at 4:08 p.m. ET. Strikes called favored pitchers on both teams, but one call went viral for costing the Mets a scoring opportunity in the fourth inning.
With one out and two runners on base, Mets infielder Jose Iglesias thought he worked the count to 3-0 after taking a pitch inside. But it was called a strike. Two pitches later, Iglesias grounded out into an inning-ending double play.
What's up with this call? 🤖 pic.twitter.com/mc8LGBsz5E
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 5, 2024
That call appeared like it was going to haunt the Mets' offense throughout Game 1 until they broke out for five runs in the top of the eighth inning.
MLB fans—neutral observers as well as those rooting for the Mets and Phillies—weighed in on social media about the strike zone:
just throw it to that side of the plate I guess pic.twitter.com/9yQxKQ3x8F
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) October 5, 2024
But that strike zone is crazy lol https://t.co/6tc42R6V1i
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) October 5, 2024
This is the story of the entire game. Wheeler threw gas for 2 innings, then he lost the zone & the umpire kept calling strikes anyway. pic.twitter.com/XfFH2vXwKP
— TomHoefWrites (@TomHoefWrites) October 5, 2024
Wheeler’s strike zone today: pic.twitter.com/S04Ia2EDBI
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 5, 2024
I mean this strike zone is insane
— green man (@real_green_man) October 5, 2024
I see the strike zone is really just subjective now pic.twitter.com/JV4MQtTmks
— X-Melissa 🇵🇷⚾️🦙🤷🏽♀️🍀 (@msmiaguilar) October 5, 2024
The Mets and Phillies will return to the field for Game 2 at 4:08 p.m. ET Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Umpire's Expanded Strike Zone in Mets-Phillies Game 1 Has MLB World in Uproar.
