CINCINNATI — Steve Cohen on Saturday supported a fan’s idea to welcome Francisco Lindor back to Citi Field with a standing ovation later this week. Instead of raining boos on the shortstop, Mets fans and the Mets owner suggested cheering to ease the shortstop’s funk.
Perhaps such an action is not necessary. Perhaps that applause is a tribute to a star player who has broken out of a slump.
For the first time in this short season, Lindor showed life and power in a 3-1 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park, giving the Mets their first series of the season.
The Mets (3-6) will start Monday’s series in Atlanta with momentum and likely an All-Star shortstop who is returning to form.
Lindor appeared in eight games, going 1-for-31 with a rarely seen batting average of .032. It took him four innings to record two more hits, a double in the first inning and a home run in the fourth, giving him his first two extra-base hits of the season.
Facing left-hander Andrew Abbott in the first inning, Lindor gave the Mets an early lead with a double that crossed the third base line and gave them a lead they couldn’t relinquish. With two outs, he scored on a funky, Reds-assisted single from Francisco Alvarez, who hit a grounder between first and second base, prompting Abbott to cover first. Second baseman Santiago Espinal hit Abbott with a wild pitch, Alvarez reached, and Lindor scored.
The Mets scored their second run in the second inning, a sort of Little League run, with two bunts and a walk to load the bases before Brandon Nimmo was hit by a pitch.
In the fourth inning, right-hander Lindor took Abbott’s high fastball and hit a solo shot 368 feet to the left, giving the Mets the winning run.
Lindor’s 2-for-5 at-bats on the day camouflaged the Mets’ offense on an afternoon when the group left eight runners on base, including the bases loaded in the second and third innings. However, Lindor got a few wins and the Mets’ pitching staff did the rest, holding the Reds to three hits.
Sean Manaea, the Mets’ best pitcher for two turns through the rotation, held the Reds to one run in five innings. His only blemish came in the fourth inning, when he added a run on Espinal’s sacrifice fly. However, with one out and the bases loaded, Manaea caused Bubba Thompson to ground out, resulting in a double play.
Jorge López struck out Espinal in the sixth inning to thwart third baseman Elie Delacruz and finish the job.
Brooks Lally, Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz then pitched for the third time in four days, pitching three scoreless innings. Diaz’s save was his second of the series and season, and was important for the Mets and their friendly bet with Reds closer Alexis Diaz. The brothers who have fewer saves in head-to-head matches will have to buy dinner for the entire family.
Edwin is 2, Alexis is 0.
