Lindor Shines in Mets Victory

Francisco Lindor’s performance has dramatically improved, turning from a streak of struggles to a standout showing on the field.

The All-Star shortstop had his fourth multi-hit game this Saturday, contributing significantly to the Mets’ victory in Nolan McLean’s major league debut.

With two home runs to his name, Lindor’s stats included four hits, two RBIs, and a stolen base. Over the last four games, he’s tallied 10 hits in 16 at-bats, driving in six runs.

“I’m definitely riding a good wave right now,” Lindor noted, reflecting on his previous 60 games where he posted a .634 OPS. “I know it can change at any moment, but I just want to keep this going as long as I can.”

Lindor’s third double marked the Mets’ opening run of the day, and a single combined with a stolen base prompted a rally that brought in two additional runs.

With his 20th stolen base this season, Lindor celebrated his fifth 20/20 season (home runs and stolen bases), making him the first shortstop in MLB history to achieve this milestone.

McLean’s debut marked the sixth for the Mets this season, following players like Hayden Senger and Jonathan Pintaro, and he is the first pitcher the Mets have drafted since David Peterson in 2020.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza remarked that deciding to designate Paul Blackburn for assignment after Friday’s game was tough, but the team needed to make room for McLean. Blackburn, a veteran pitcher, had returned from the injured list but struggled with a 6.85 ERA in seven appearances this season.

In other news, Juan Soto hit his 30th home run on Friday, joining an exclusive group of players in franchise history to achieve that milestone in their first season with the team, including notable names like Frank Thomas and Pete Alonso.