During a Mets game, an odd moment unfolded in the top of the third inning with Jacob deGrom on the mound and the opposing pitcher at the plate. With runners on and no outs, the pitcher tried to lay down a bunt. After a couple of failed attempts and a 2-1 count, he fouled another bunt off, bringing the count to two strikes. Then came the mistake. The pitcher went for another bunt with two strikes and popped it up. The ball sailed into foul territory and Pete Alonso came charging in, making a full-extension diving catch.
Problem was, he didn’t need to make the play. Because it was a bunt attempt with two strikes, a foul automatically counts as a strikeout. If Alonso had let the ball drop, the at-bat would have ended with no effort. Instead, he turned a strikeout into a standard out and added injury risk in the process. As Alonso returned to the infield, deGrom couldn’t help but laugh, giving him a playful reminder that the out had already been his. Alonso took it in stride but looked embarrassed, shaking his head and laughing at himself. A rare moment of unnecessary hustle that gave everyone a quick laugh and a reminder of the finer points of National League bunting rules.