Danny Muno ties Mets record with three errors
Danny Muno of the New York Mets looks on against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on Friday, April 17, 2015. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Mets always were going to miss David Wright, but Danny Muno's infield exploits yesterday afternoon provided an extra reminder of how much they've lost . . . and how much they need in order to feel comfortable at the position.
Muno, making his third start at third base, committed his first major-league error. And his second. And his third.
The errors tie a franchise record that's been matched multiple times, the Mets said, the last by Wright on April 19, 2006.
"It's something at this level you can't do," manager Terry Collins said, noting that Muno's errors inflated Jacob deGrom's pitch count. "Danny, we felt comfortable getting him over there and [Eric Campbell] has had a couple of days when he didn't catch the ball over there, so it's become a little bit if a concern where we have to try to shore up our defense."
Muno's fielding error on a grounder off the bat of Nick Markakis in the fourth inning was erased by A.J. Pierzynski's double-play ball, and throwing errors in the sixth and the eighth caused the Mets to sweat, but they ultimately did no immediate damage. In the sixth, Muno bounced a throw to first that allowed Kelly Johnson to reach before he was erased on a fielder's choice. His eighth-inning throw on another Markakis grounder skittered passed Lucas Duda. Markakis was left stranded at second.
Parnell returns
Reliever Bobby Parnell made his first major-league appearance this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. With one on and two outs in the eighth, he allowed a single to Johnson before closing out the inning by getting Pierzynski to ground out to second. Collins said Parnell looked "rusty" but that it was a good opportunity to reacclimate the former closer.
"It was good to be back out there," Parnell said. "I've still got some work to do . . . The strength is there and the health is there and getting back to the mechanics is going to be [important]."
Extra bases
Collins said Daniel Murphy (left quadriceps strain) had six at-bats in an extended game Friday but did not run. He may return as early as next week . . . The Mets claimed Kirk Nieuwenhuis off waivers from the Angels a month after designating him for assignment and trading him to Los Angeles for cash . . . The Mets officially traded lefthander Brad Wieck to the Padres to complete the deal that brought Alex Torres to the team. Wieck, then the player to be named later, was sent to the Padres along with righthander Cory Mazzoni.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
