New York – Francisco Lindor’s reaction, if it can be called thus, was that of pure stoicism. Lindor muddled his bat and dropped him into a wink, giving a glance to the ball as he climbed up. He did not bother to watch him land in the second bridge on the right. Instead, Lindor gave his gaze on the canoe, where his teammates were already spreading on the ground.
Lindor had just struck his first time circuit at home as Met, offering a 5-4 victory against the cardinals in one of the chaotic matches that Citi Field saw this season. He was proud of his work.
“This is why he is an elite player and a special player,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “The moment is never too big for him. He knows what is at stake, and he lives for these moments.”
Until that time, it was an unsuccessful game for Lindor, who appeared in his first at-bat and stole in each of his next two runners to mark the two times. Lindor was 0 for 4 before the ninth. The game script, meanwhile, had imploded around him.
By dragging during most of the rounds in the middle, the dishes had linked things to a two -point rally in the fifth, that Juan Soto punctuated a simple RBI to break a skid 0 for 12. The cardinals marked at the top of the sixth; The dishes responded at the bottom of the round. The dishes took their lead in the eighth; The cardinals responded to the ninth.
In the canoe at that time, the dishes gathered, based on all their previous experiences to win these types of games. This helped Lindor, Soto and Pete Alonso were due to the bottom of the ninth, although the dishes did not need to take it almost far. The third step that Ryan Fernandez launched was a cutter of 91 MPH, which Lindor crushed to 108.8 MPH of the bat.
The result was his 250th career Homer, 11 days after his 1500th career success. Lindor is the first player in the history of the major league whose 250th Homer has doubled as departure.
“It was fantastic,” he said, “because I knew we were going to win.”
Although Lindor has never struck a return circuit with the dishes, he is no stranger to these situations. Twice with Cleveland, Lindor gave birth to circuits. On five other occasions, he produced a point produced on foot, including a fly of sacrifice earlier this season against the Blue Jays.
“You feel good in your chances,” said Mendoza.
The Friday circuit was only a continuation of what Lindor has accomplished in the past 11 months. His 2024 season was undoubtedly the best in his career, both on the field and outside. Now at ease in his house adopted in New York, Lindor is the clear focal point of a clubhouse which also includes Soto, Alonso and other stars. He contributed to some of the most important successes in the playoff race in the dishes last year and returns to do the same this season.
“He has a good idea of what’s going on,” said Starter David Peterson, who launched the sixth. “He obviously has a lot of leadership in him, and he assumes this role very well. And that does not hurt to be the best stop of the game.”
During 19 games, Lindor hits. 263 / .322 / .395 with two circuits and two stolen bases – figures that may not jump from the page, but which are on a much higher plane than that last year. The fears of his embarrassment in another important crisis at the start of the season were unjustified. Lindor is already back in Lindor, with an average of .321 in his last 14 games.
“There are a lot of things that define it – not only times like this, but as soon as it comes to the stadium, it has a positive impact on people in a positive way,” said Mendoza. “Just his presence, his interactions, the way he pushes people, the way he encourages people – and not only players, but coaches, support staff, everyone in this building. His presence, you can feel it every time. I am happy to have it.”
