Mets' Carlos Mendoza lets another controversial call stand after saying team missed challenge in Saturday loss

Just about a month into the MLB season, the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies have already fired their managers in Alex Cora and Rob Thompson, respectively. Good moves, or too premature?

One of baseball’s oddest situations led to a controversial out call at first base in Sunday afternoon’s matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and New York Mets.

Mets star outfielder Juan Soto grounded a ball to first base when Nolan Schanuel, and the fielder had the ball stuck in the webbing of his glove — the oddity in question.

Schanuel was trying to turn a double play, but after realizing he couldn’t get the ball out of his glove, he decided to try to get Soto at first base to ensure an out.

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Juan Soto of the New York Mets reacts after hitting an RBI single during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Citi Field in New York City on March 26, 2026. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

However, Soto was booking it down the first base line, and Schanuel was forced to flip the glove, ball still in the webbing, to pitcher Jack Kochanowicz covering the bag. It was a very close play, but the umpire signaled that Soto was out despite the madness that transpired across just a few seconds in the top of the third inning.

But while Soto believed he was safe in general, the Mets bench was screaming toward the field that Kochanowicz never fully secured Schanuel’s glove, bobbling it as Soto crossed first base.

No one would’ve blamed Mets manager Carlos Mendoza for challenging the call on the field, but he told umpires to keep going — an interesting move considering what happened just the game prior on Saturday night.

Mendoza was criticized for not challenging a call