MIAMI -- In a close game, few things can be as polarizing as an unsuccessful bunt attempt. Few things can so quickly change the tenor of an inning.
So it was in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 4-3 Mets loss to the Marlins, after Daniel Murphy led off with a double. Going through his signs, third-base coach Tim Teufel gave Ruben Tejada the choice of bunting or trying to advance the runner with an opposite-field swing.
Tejada chose to bunt but struck the ball too hard back to pitcher Bryan Morris, who fielded it, whirled and cut down Murphy at third with time to spare.