NEW YORK – Francisco Lindor snatched a 31-31 career on the plate when he finally dropped the RBI single into the left field in the third inning on Wednesday, with an almost sold-out Citi seat rising to provide him with a warm applause. If no one on the court is leaning towards Lindor’s downturn, it will be hard for them to remain unaware at that moment.
“I know something has happened,” pitcher Sean Manaea said. “I don't know of such a winning streak.”
Now, Lindor's winning streak is the past. The same goes for Pete Alonso’s 13-game score, and his game ended when he blasted three innings of home runs on the second deck to the left.
The result is that it often happens when the New York superstar hits the table with authority: the Mets beat the Angels 6-3 to complete a three-game series and a fourth straight win.
“Today,” Alonso said, “very great.”
Although the Mets performed well throughout the six games, which sold out four games and attracted more than 2.5 million fans, their initial success was not as helpful as Lindor and Alonso. Both are easy to do throughout their careers, especially Lindor, who hit at least 20 bats. Manager Carlos Mendoza said this was largely due to Lindo's aggressiveness, saying it was a positive feature that could sometimes work with him.
Lindo said, “You are good when you are well.” “You are sucking when you suck.”
But unlike some of his other no-hit percentages recently, Lindor has been giving the Mets a competitive hitter in recent days – job count, hitting, and even contributing the RBI Fielder choice on Monday. So he didn't contribute far away when he approached the plate with two men in the third inning Wednesday.
When Angel Lefty Jake Eder left a slider in the inner half of the plate, Lindor grabbed enough of the court to spin it to the left to put his behavior in a stumbling way. At that time, fans all over the stadium rose, causing Lindo to applaud.
“They've been supporting me all the time,” Lindo said. “I feel love. It's absolutely special. It makes you want to keep working harder. This city, this market allows you to make the best for yourself every day. You can't take it for granted.”
After two hitters, the romance show continued as Alonso broke the game with a 439-foot three-round home run. Although Alonso's 13 downs were pale compared to Lindor's skiing, it was part of a longer 34 loss for the first baseman.
“It's obviously enjoyable and fun to play a big home run with the guys at the base,” Alonso said.
While this isn't an offensive catharsis for the Mets, it does take the pressure from Manaea and more recently Edwin Díaz, who recorded the last four games for Save. Beyond that, it can mark a better start. Later in the game, Lindor added a second RBI single, while Alonso hits what he calls a near-field single that is just as important to his own swing and home run.
These two need better is not a secret. Before this homeland, the Mets found themselves relying primarily on Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez and other bottom-most batsmen to produce. They contributed a RBI of Lindor and Alonso in seven games from July 12 to 22.
Both spent time doing early batting practice on the field this week. Both are searching for fixes in the cage. Even Mendoza contributed, encouraging Alonso to fall early on while swinging the bat.
“It takes a village,” Mendoza said.
The Mets will now head to the West for a tough six-game match on the competitive Giants and Padres. To browse, they will need the ongoing contributions of Lindor and Alonso, as well as Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo.
With 103 games, the Mets have a statistically average offense. This will turn it into something more by their top hitters.
“We need those guys,” Mendoza said. “We know they're going through it. But they're so good, man. They're so good. They're so good. They're so good.