Opening Day started with a great success.
During the game, which Milwaukee won 3-1, Brewers first baseman Reece Hoskins slid hard into Mets middle infielder Jeff McNeil, causing the two to face off on the field.
At one point, McNeil stood over Hoskins and barked at him to slide, resulting in two benchers being ejected, but it did little to inspire the one-hit Mets, who were caught off guard to start the season. Ta.
A review was conducted, and despite McNeil’s visible disgust, no sliding violation was declared, and Hoskins took the time to condemn McNeil’s reaction to the incident.
“I just want to play baseball, you know?” Hoskins told reporters after the game. “We had a chance to score extra points with runners out in the eighth inning, but the last thing we wanted to do was let them hit a double play. McNeil used my slide as an excuse, but to be honest, I I didn’t really think about it. I ended up hitting him, but that’s what happens on slow plays, and I was just trying to make sure he didn’t hit into a double play.”
Hoskins added: “After that, I was like, I just laid there…I left whatever McNeil needed to get out, let him get out, watch it, and then get off the field. I got to get away and meet the whole team, so there’s not much else to be completely honest with you.”
Mr Hoskins said he could not repeat what Mr McNeil had said, but acknowledged there had been “a few words”.
He added of McNeil: “I’ve played in this ballpark many times and he seems to complain when things aren’t going well and I think it’s one of those moments. Maybe he got a little bit lost in the heat of the game. No, but again, I think just playing the game hard and playing the game the right way.”
McNeil said the play was “just a late slide.”
Of Hoskins, the former Philadelphia Phillies No. 1 slugger, McNeil added: I didn’t like his slides. ”
