MIAMI -- Mets shortstop Amed Rosario wasn’t in the starting lineup for the Mets' 6-2 victory over Miami at Marlins Park on Sunday afternoon after a lack of hustle on a play the night before.
Rosario, whose fly ball to right-center in the eighth inning of Saturday night's 4-2 win dropped between Marlins outfielders JT Riddle and Brian Anderson, had to settle for a single when he didn't run full speed.
"I think I got caught up in the emotion of just popping out," Rosario said through an interpreter following Sunday's game. "It wasn't the best decision to make, and that's just really the way I feel about it."
During Sunday's pregame media session, Mets manager Mickey Callaway had called it a scheduled off-day for Rosario -- who wasn't in the starting lineup for the first time since June 21 -- and a chance to keep veteran Adeiny Hechavarria fresh.
According to an SNY report, though, the benching was considered disciplinary. Callaway refuted that on Sunday afternoon.
"I wouldn't call it disciplinary," Callaway said. "It was a night game/day game [situation]. There's opportunity for another player to get in there and get him going. We addressed that part of it after the game last night. He knows that he needs to be on second in that situation, and a few guys hit him up right after it happened."
Added Rosario: "I don't think I'm being singled out. It's just been my style of play where I'm always aggressive, and this time you noticed where I kind of left my foot off the gas."
Rosario entered Sunday afternoon's game in the bottom of the seventh, taking over at shortstop as part of a double switch. He then led off the eighth inning with a double. The 23-year-old has a .265/.294/.395 slash line with a .689 OPS through 90 games.
"He's done a heck of a job. He always hustles," Callaway went on to say. "The one time he didn't, the ball drops and he should've been on second base. It's a learning lesson for him. But this guy works every single day, he's made strides in certain parts of his game. I'm happy with [Rosario], man. He comes here every day, like I said, to work and to get better, and I feel like he has."
This isn't the first time a Mets player sat out after an apparent lack of hustle this season. In mid-May, Robinson Cano drew heat on a double play against the Marlins in Miami before being benched.
As for the message Rosario received from Callaway?
"He just said to run hard," Rosario said.