NEW YORK – A cardboard cutout of a dog at Citi Field ripped the paws off a home run ball Saturday.
The easiest search game Willow McNeil will play.
Atlanta’s Adam Duvall fired a solo shot in right field that struck a cardboard image of the 1-year-old puppy belonging to Mets All-Star Jeff McNeil.
“Just out of the dog!” New York announcer Gary Cohen exclaimed.
Willow was one of three mock dogs supported in the front row behind the right field wall for New York’s second game of this shortened 60-game season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
With viewers locked out of Citi Field, Mets fans have bought the right to have cardboard pictures placed on the seats.
Right fielder Michael Conforto bought one for each of his dogs, Griffey and Kali, but he didn’t like that they settled on the third base line for Friday’s season opener. He pulled them out of the stands during batting practice and had them relocate to right field so they could sit behind him as he played defense. Willow’s likeness was to accompany them.
McNeil met Willow, believed to be the Alaskan malamute, the great mix of the Pyrenees and the shepherds, a year ago on Sunday during a pre-game adoption event at Citi Field. His wife Tatiana initially hesitated to let McNeil bring the cub home, but she relented when McNeil hit a three-run home run later that night.
Willow certainly seems happy with her new home. She and Mac, the McNeils cat, are frequent friends, with more than 16,000 followers on Instagram.
A stadium employee entered the cubs section after the second inning and retrieved the ball, which was sitting in the seat that held Willow’s image.
.
