Mets Carlos Mendoza hopes brutal triple play call leads to more instant replay

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.WASHINGTON — If the Mets could take any positive Saturday from the missed call a night earlier that may have played a significant role in the game’s outcome, it’s the idea MLB will remove the shackles on instant replay.To manager Carlos Mendoza, it was obvious from the dugout that Jesse Winker’s shot to first base in the fourth inning hit the ground.

But first base umpire Alfonso Márquez ruled the ball was caught by Nathaniel Lowe, starting a triple play that literally took the Mets right out of the inning.Before the Mets’ 2-0 win over the Nationals on Saturday, Mendoza — whose Mets lost 5-4 a night earlier — said he hadn’t spoken to MLB about the call.But his expectation was he would have a conversation at some point with Michael Hill, the league’s senior vice president of on-field operations.The play wasn’t reviewable by replay because the ball never left the infield.“With a play that has so much impact on a game — you’re talking about a triple play; it’s first and second with nobody out — there has got to be some kind of consideration without removing the human element,” Mendoza said.

“Hopefully situations like this will help moving forward for better decision-making.”Among Mendoza’s complaints to umpires as he argued the call was Márquez’s positioning behind the play that didn’t provide an optimal view in trying to determine if the ball hit the ground.Mendoza wanted the umpires to convene on the field and discuss the call, but that never occurred.Brandon Nimmo, the lead runner at second base on the play, said he saw a “little skip” on Winker’s shot to first base and that prompted him to start running.

Mark Vientos was running from first base behind him.Both were ruled out on Lowe’s throw to CJ Abrams at second base.

“I do wish it could be reviewed,” Nimmo said.“I ...