The Kansas City Royals committed a historic three-error meltdown during a critical play against the New York Mets, gifting the Mets an unexpected three-run lead in their July 7 matchup.

Mets outfielder Carson Benge hit a slow chopper back to the mound, and the Royals' defensive breakdown allowed Benge to round the bases and score three unearned runs.

The errors occurred in a single play: pitcher Seth Lugo's off-balance throw to first base missed, third baseman Nick Loftin's relay throw missed the bag, and first baseman Jac Caglianone's attempt to tag out Benge sailed past the bag.The Mets capitalized on the chaos, jumping ahead 3-0 before the Royals could respond.Despite the early struggles, the Royals rallied to tie the game at 9-9 by the fifth inning.

The incident highlights the Royals' defensive vulnerabilities and the Mets' opportunistic approach, marking one of the strangest scoring sequences of the MLB season.

The article also notes the broader context of the Mets' potential trade of Francisco Lindor amid a disastrous season and the Royals' struggles to maintain consistency.