Mets brutal defensive gaffes cost them in miserable NLCS Game 3 inning

The Mets’ top of the second inning was a display of what not to do on the baseball diamond. A series of Mets defensive blunders led to the Dodgers scoring first — with two runs — in Game 3 of the NLCS at Citi Field. After catcher Francisco Alvarez made an ill-advised throw to second on one play and Luis Severino failed to field a grounder on another, Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a ball back at the Mets starting pitcher, who struggled to field the ball as hit off his glove.It allowed Smith to reach first and Max Muncy to score from third. Earlier in the inning, Alvarez made a blunder of his own that started the Mets down the ugly path. Teoscar Hernández hit a ball right in front of Alvarez at the plate, and instead of throwing to first base to get the more sure out, he tried to get an out at second, launching a wild throw that Jose Iglesias couldn’t play cleanly grab, putting runners at first and second. With Gavin Lux up, he hit a comebacker to Severino, who failed to field it cleanly, botching a chance at a potential double play as the pitcher got just the one out at first base.Outfielder Tyrone Taylor made up for it slightly with a sliding catch in right field to get the second out of the inning to rob Tommy Edman of an extra-base hit.It did, however, allow the Dodgers to score their second run of the night. Enrique Hernández was called out on strikes to end the inning and prevent any further damage....