Even with a fractured pinky toe, Francisco Lindor showed why he’s one of the New York Mets’ most clutch performers.
Lindor, held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game, came off the bench in the ninth and delivered a two-run, pinch-hit double down the right-field line to break a tie and lift the Mets (40-24) to a 4-2 victory over the Rockies (12-51) on Friday night at Coors Field.
With two outs and runners on the corners, Lindor turned on a cutter and drove in Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, who slid around the tag at home, to give the Mets the lead for good.
It capped off a night where the Mets squandered early chances, going just 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and leaving 12 men on base. One of those two hits came in the seventh when Alonso snapped an 0-for-8 team slump with RISP by roping a two-run double into the gap to erase a 1-0 deficit.
Kodai Senga was strong on the mound, tossing six innings of one-run ball while striking out six and working out of multiple jams. After Huascar Brazoban gave up the tying run in the seventh, Ryne Stanek escaped a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the eighth with a clutch unassisted double play by Brett Baty and a strikeout. Edwin Díaz closed the door with a perfect ninth for his 14th save.
Soto had his first three-hit game as a Met, and Alonso finished with two RBI to push his league-leading total to 57.
The Mets will look to secure a series win over the Rockies on Saturday at 9:40 p.m. with Clay Holmes on the bump.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].