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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Francisco Lindor delivered one of his most complete performances of the season Monday night at Citi Field. The Mets' star shortstop hit two home runs, smashed a triple, and drove in six runs in an offensive showcase that ultimately overwhelmed the Atlanta Braves, 14-3. A July evening where everything he touched seemed to turn into extra bases.
A three-star night
Lindor finished the game with three hits in five plate appearances, but it was the damage he inflicted that stood out.
Lindor finished the game with three hits in five plate appearances, but it was the damage he inflicted that stood out. In the third inning, he sent a pitch to the second deck of the right-field stands for two runs, giving the Mets the lead. In the eighth inning, with the game already decided, he did it again with a three-run shot that made it 14-3. In between, a triple hit off the top of the outfield wall, inches short of a third home run.
The six RBIs tied his personal record. All this in a context where the Mets, last in the East Division with a 45-62 record, don't have much left to play for collectively. But Lindor keeps stringing together performances: over his last eleven games, his offensive line is flirting with the top.
A game with two faces
The evening hadn't started with a bang, though. The Mets' young starting pitcher, left-handed rookie Zac Thornton, gave up three runs in the early innings and seemed headed for a rough outing. Then he found his rhythm: seven consecutive outs, no runs allowed over the next four innings. He finished with six and a third innings pitched, three earned runs, and above all the ability to hold his own against an Atlanta offense that leads the division (62-44).
It was after Thornton's exit that the dam broke for the Braves. The Mets scored eleven runs in the final three innings, turning a close game into a rout. Nineteen total hits for New York, their highest output of the season.
Atlanta takes the hit but stays the course
For the Braves, the loss is heavy but not alarming. The gap in the standings remains comfortable, and the bullpen, roughed up on Monday, had been firing on all cylinders in previous days. Manager Brian Snitker emptied his relief corps late in the game, a sign he preferred to save his arms for the rest of the series.
On the Mets' side, beyond Lindor, several young hitters took the opportunity to pad their stats. The collective offensive showcase comes at the right time for a team still searching for its identity with two months left in the regular season.
And now
The two teams meet again Tuesday for the second game of the series. Atlanta will send its ace to the mound to try to set things straight, while the Mets will look to confirm that this offensive explosion wasn't just a summer flash in the pan. Lindor, for his part, hasn't finished reminding everyone why his name remains one of the most respected in the National League, even in a disappointing team season. The three-game series between the two division rivals takes on particular importance for New York, which is looking to avoid last place in the East Division. Every win against Atlanta, the benchmark team, counts double in the clubhouse. Lindor is aware of this: his young teammates are watching and learning. His silent leadership, built on example more than words, remains the compass of a roster in transition.
The Puerto Rico native now has 22 home runs and 71 RBIs on the season, numbers that place him among the most productive shortstops in the National League despite the team's struggles. At 32, he continues to produce at an All-Star pace without the team's results tarnishing his consistency.