John Franco now has 424 career saves and one first pitch to forget. The Mets’ all-time leader in saves was given the ceremonial task for Italian Heritage night at Citi Field on Wednesday night before the Amazin’s 3-2, 10-inning win over the Tigers, and his throw delivered flashbacks to rapper 50 Cent’s ill-fated toss in Queens that went viral in 2014.
Franco, donning the promotional green, white and red Mets jersey of the Italian flag, didn’t complete the follow-through on this throw, and it sailed well high and wide and eventually made its way to the backstop in Flushing. All the Brooklyn native could do was laugh, shrug his shoulders and extend his arms in disbelief as he walked toward home plate for a handshake with Mets catcher Hayden Senger.
