Reds lose to Mets, 8-3

NEW YORK – The Cincinnati Reds batted out of order in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 8-3 loss to the New York Mets, resulting in a 10-minute delay as umpires and managers sorted out the confusion.

Catcher David Ross led off the inning and lined out. But the batter in the No. 8 spot should have been outfielder Corey Patterson, with Ross hitting ninth after an earlier double switch.

Mets Manager Willie Randolph came out to inform the umpiring crew of the mixup. Patterson was charged with the out, which officially counts as a putout by the catcher, and Ross came up again. This time, he singled.

Reds Manager Dusty Baker said the batting order was correct on the dugout board and on his scorecard.

“The guys hit out of order, and it’s my job to catch that,” Baker said. “So I take full responsibility.”

Crew chief Dale Scott said he’d never seen it happen in 23 years of umpiring.

After the game, with Patterson standing in the next locker, Ross was asked whether he was buying dinner for his teammate that night.

“Oh, yeah, that’s definitely true,” Ross said. “We’ve already discussed it.”

From the Associated Press