Jose Reyes isn’t infallible, after all.
The Mets leadoff hitter was called out on a controversial play at third base in the seventh inning, helping to cut short a rally and the Yankees went on to win, 5-1, at Citi Field.
After tagging and moving to second on a Justin Turner fly to center, Reyes tried to advance to third following a misplay by shortstop Eduardo Nunez. Reyes slid in as Nunez’s throw reached thirtd, but home plate umpire Jerry Layne — covering the base on the play — ruled Alex Rodriguez tagged Reyes.
“I don’t feel any tag,” said Reyes, who was in position to take third because he bounced up immediately at second base and saw Nunez bobble Curtis Granderson’s throw. “It was a tough situation there, down 3-1. It’s a different ballgame.”
The Mets never threatened again and Layne stood by his call after the game — even though replays appeared to show Rodriguez missed the tag.
“You see what it is,” Layne said. “It was a close play at third base. . . . I had him tagging him, you know, on the side by the belt-buttocks area for an out.”
Asked if he clearly saw a tag, Layne said: “I called what I saw.”
Reyes doubted Layne was in position to make the call.
“He was running to third base,” Reyes said. “I don’t know if he had a very good view of the play.”
Mets manager Terry Collins, who was ejected for arguing the play, had no problem with Reyes trying to make something happen.
“He acted on his instincts,” Collins said. “You can’t corral a guy like that.”
Rodriguez thought he might have gotten Reyes.
“I think I just touched a little bit of his sleeve,” Rodriguez said. “I saw the replay three or four times and I couldn’t even tell then. . . . I thought I had got a little bit of the sleeve.”
That didn’t happen, but Reyes didn’t regret trying to grab the extra base.
“I think I had a good chance to make it . . . but he called me out,” Reyes said. “That’s part of the game. I try to be aggressive on the basepaths and nothing’s gonna change that.”
Additional reporting
by Brian Costello.