Brian Snitker calls out Braves outfielder for ‘unacceptable’ mistake that preceded game-ending gaffe

A failed suicide squeeze ran the Braves out of a golden opportunity Thursday in what ultimately became a mistake-filled extra-innings loss to the Mets.

Outfielder Ramon Laureano — who later overran Jeff McNeil’s walk-off single in the 3-2 loss — was caught between third base and home plate after Jarred Kelenic did not attempt to bunt on a pitch way out of the zone, resulting in Laureano being tagged for the second out in a tied game in the 10th inning.

“I don’t know what that was, quite honestly,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said when asked about Laureano’s read. “You’re going to have to ask them. I didn’t have anything. We normally don’t bunt in that situation but I was trying to score a run, and we had two pretty good hitters coming up, I thought.

“That’s unacceptable.”

Laureano and Kelenic attempted the squeeze play seemingly on their own with one out and a runner on third base, with Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, and Matt Olson to follow.

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Kelenic squared up before Mets reliever Phil Maton released the pitch and Maton released a high and outside pitch that would have been quite difficult — if not impossible — to lay down a fair bunt.

However, with a safety squeeze, it’s on Kelenic to at least attempt to make contact to prevent his runner from being caught in no-man’s land, which is exactly what happened.

“I think it’s pretty simple,” Kelenic said, per MLB.com . “I think I’ve got to swing the bat there. I was trying to do too much. I think that’s all there is to it.”

It seemed as if Laureano had a chance to get back to third, but he hesitated on the throwback to third base and he was dead to rights.

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During the rundown, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez took exception to a shoulder shot from Laureano, but neither side got overly heated after the play.

The base-running blunder marked the second in as many innings by the struggling Braves.

In the ninth, free-agent pickup Whit Merrifield was also thrown out trying to steal third base, although the Mets broadcast booth disagreed with the review by umpires.

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“If you’re not scoring, you can’t make outs on the bases like that,” Snitker said.

Laureano, a Gold Glove-nominated outfielder in 2020, added to his miserable night in the bottom of the inning when he overran McNeil’s game-winning single on a fly ball to right field.

“It’s hard on the road to win scoring one run,” Snitker said. “When you’re not scoring runs, you got to pretty much play clean baseball.”

For the Mets, it’s their fourth straight win and third over projected playoff teams, although neither the Yankees nor the Braves are playing particularly sound baseball right now.

The Reds just swept Atlanta in a two-game series and Atlanta has now dropped five straight games.

The Mets’ (54-48) winning streak puts them a half-game behind Atlanta for the top wild-card slot with three games remaining in this four-game set.

They’ll send Kodai Senga to the mound Friday for his season debut opposite Charlie Morton with a chance to overtake the Braves.

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