NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor experienced a momentous occasion, one that required no confirmation from his eyes. Stepping up to bat in the ninth inning, Lindor faced an inside cutter from Ryan Fernandez. He didn’t need to trace its arc to know the result—it was heading straight for the second deck at Citi Field, impressively landing 401 feet into right field.
“I put all my strength into that swing,” Lindor remarked. “Had it not gone out, I would’ve thought my luck had dried up.” It was the 250th home run of his major league tenure and it propelled the New York Mets to a narrow 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. The iconic Home Run Apple in center field celebrated by releasing its signature puffs of smoke.
Lindor followed the ball with his gaze only briefly, choosing instead to share the moment with his teammates in the dugout. “I stayed with my guys,” he shared. “I didn’t have to see it land. I knew it was gone.” The Mets rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the fifth and a 3-2 challenge in the sixth, gaining a lead through Luis Torrens’ critical RBI double in the eighth. Yet, a setback arrived when Huascar Brazobán surrendered a game-tying homer to Brendan Donovan at the onset of the ninth. Donovan managed a stinging hit that kissed the netting of the right foul pole.
Following this blip, Brazobán rallied to dispatch three Cardinals via strikeouts, setting the stage for Lindor, a pivotal figure in the Mets’ rejuvenation to make their mark in last year’s NL Championship Series. Lindor promptly dug in, dismissing a bouncing cutter and seizing on a fastball to deliver his first Mets walk-off homer, marking the third of his career, with his last occurring in 2018 with Cleveland.
“That’s what makes him an elite player,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted. “Those moments never faze him. He embraces the pressure and delivered splendidly tonight. A true talent and remarkable individual.” Crossing this threshold, Lindor joins an exclusive group of players, becoming the 254th to achieve 250 career home runs, and notably, only the fifth to do so mostly as a shortstop. The walk-off element added additional flair to his historic swing.
“He shapes the team atmosphere,” Mendoza elaborated. “From the moment he arrives at the ballpark, his influence uplifts everyone, from players to coaches, even the support staff. His energy is palpable whenever he’s present.”
The Mets have built a formidable lineup, having secured outfielder Juan Soto with a landmark $765 million, 15-year deal, and maintaining first baseman Pete Alonso with a $54 million, two-year contract. Holding a strong position in the NL East at 13-7, and boastfully standing at 7-1 on home soil, the team’s combination is proving formidable.
“That’s quite the challenging lineup to face,” Cardinals’ starter Miles Mikolas conceded after grappling with a resurgent Soto in the fifth. Acquired from Cleveland in January 2021, Lindor was a catalyst for establishing the Mets’ winning culture—a team aiming to repeat the glory of their 1986 World Series triumph.
“His guidance is invaluable,” Mets pitcher David Peterson appreciated. “Paired with being arguably the top shortstop today.” A fan favorite and four-time All-Star, Lindor mesmerized with .273 batting average, 33 home runs, and 91 RBIs last season, with crowds often participating in sing-alongs as his signature walk-up tune, The Temptations’ “My Girl,” fills Citi Field.
Earlier in the season, Lindor delivered another walk-off win against Toronto via a sacrifice fly on April 5. “I value the authenticity in actions and words,” he expressed. “I mean what I say. It’s crucial to me.” Reflecting on his triumphant home circuit, Lindor mentioned only one thing came to his mind: looking forward to Saturday’s forecast of warming conditions. “We won, and can now enjoy a reprieve from the chill,” he concluded.