The Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates, one of the best teams in baseball, were tied, 1-1, at Citi Field on Sunday when Pirates pinch-hitter Michael Morse hit a comebacker to the mound in the seventh inning. It was a routine play, the kind winning teams execute with ease.
Mets reliever Bobby Parnell fielded the ball, turned to second base and threw, starting what was expected to be a double play. Ruben Tejada, the shortstop, and Daniel Murphy, the second baseman, were sprinting toward the base, along with the Pirates’ Pedro Florimon who had walked to open the inning.