Three days ago, Francisco Lindor carried the Mets to a much-needed, road-trip-closing victory with a pair of home runs.
On Saturday, he struck out four times and popped up with the bases loaded to end a second straight dismal home defeat.
It’s been that kind of start to the season for the star shortstop: one step forward, two steps back.
Francisco Lindor reacts after striking out in the fifth inning of the Mets’ 7-4 loss to the Cardinals. Bill Kostroun / New York Post “It’s one of those that I had a couple of opportunities I could’ve helped the team, whether it was scoring runs or saving runs,” Lindor said after the Mets fell to the Cardinals, 7-4, at Citi Field, losing their second straight series. “It’s one of those, you try to look back, you try to go play by play, and you’re not happy with it.”
He added: “I’ve got to put the ball in play, that’s the bottom line. It’s an uphill fight for me. I have to stay the course, keep climbing. Just have to have better at-bats.”
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The notoriously slow-starting Lindor struck out in his first four trips to the plate, but he had a chance to atone in the ninth.
Trailing 6-0 at one point, the Mets loaded the bases with two outs and sent Lindor up as the potential game-winning run.
He swung at the first pitch he saw from closer Ryan Helsley, but failed to get on top of the 101 mph fastball, popping up to shortstop Masyn Winn.
Francisco Lindor is held back by first base coach Antoan Richardson while he argues with umpire Laz Diaz after being called out for running outside the baseline after trying to reach on a wild pitch after striking out in the eighth inning. Bill Kostroun/New York Post “When you have four strikeouts, you swing,” he said jokingly when asked what his approach was in that instance. “I thought it was a good pitch for me to hit. It was a pitch right there. I just missed it.”
After going 0-for-5, Lindor is back on the interstate, hitting .198 along with a .626 OPS.
He swung at six pitches out of the strike zone Saturday and, after chasing a fastball in the dirt in the eighth, he let his emotions get the best of him.
Lindor sprinted to first base on the wild pitch, but while he beat the off-target throw, he ran out of the baseline, running too far onto the grass.
Lindor had to be restrained. Later, he admitted the correct call was made.
“They got it right,” he said. “Bottom line, they got it right. So hats off to them. I was definitely too much in the grass.”
It was part of a forgettable day for the Mets’ shortstop — one of many so far for him in this young season.
