The New York Mets entered Friday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies off a hard-fought four-game battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets lost their last contest excruciatingly, failing multiple opportunities to take advantage of runners in scoring position and playing atrociously in the field. Would they bounce back? New York blew many chances early but woke up late to take a 4-2 victory.
Francisco Lindor broke his right pinkie toe on a hit by pitch from Tony Gonsolin in Wednesday’s 6-1 win against the Dodgers. He missed Thursday’s game, even though he hinted he could be available in a pinch-hitting opportunity.
On Thursday, Manager Carlos Mendoza chose not to go to Lindor in the ninth with the Mets down one, two outs, and a runner on first. Luisangel Acuna promptly flew out to center. Lindor should have been used, he has delivered in New York’s biggest spots.
There is increasing chatter that Lindor will be named the Mets’ captain later in the season. There shouldn’t be a wait; he epitomizes all that a leader should be. He checks in on all his teammates after every series. He inspires them by fighting through pain, and gutting it out with a broken toe is the latest example. He understands what playing in the Big Apple is all about; his connection to the fan base is tremendous.
Lindor illustrated all the qualities of a captain Friday night. New York consistently got men on base; however, they failed to drive them home. Scoring shouldn’t have been an issue against MLB’s worst pitching in the best hitters’ park, Coors Field. The Mets went 2 for 15 in RISP opportunities and entered the seventh down 1-0.
New York finally scored in the seventh but quickly gave back the lead in the bottom of the frame. The contest remained tied 2-2 entering the ninth. Juan Soto and Pete Alonso reached base sandwiched by two outs. Mendoza faced the same situation as he did Thursday afternoon; this time, he made the right call, sending Lindor up as a pinch hitter.
Lindor smacked a double, bringing home Alonso and Soto and giving the Mets the 4-2 lead. Edwin Diaz did what he normally does: he made quick work of the opposition to secure the victory. Lindor’s grittiness picked his team up on a night they seemed determined to lose.
Soto has been the focus of many around the game for good reasons. Any player who signs a massive contract will inspire scrutiny. The intensity only rises when they struggle. Soto’s batting average hovered in the .220 range two weeks ago, and he went extended periods without hitting homers. Critics have wondered why such a big adjustment, considering he didn’t switch cities with his free agent decision, only boroughs.
Soto has come to life recently, benefiting from much of that coming against Colorado. He went 4 for 9 against the Rockies in New York with two home runs, four runs scored, and three runs batted in. He continued on Friday evening in Denver, collecting three hits and scoring two runs.
Alonso has been on a tear since enduring a 17-game homerless streak earlier in the month. He has six HRs in his last 12 games; he hit three in the four-game Dodgers’ set. Playing in Coors Field seemed likely to encourage many more power jacks, but he didn’t go yard on Friday.
Alonso reached base three times and played a huge role in the Mets’ run-scoring innings. He doubled in the seventh, knocking in two runs to give New York its first lead of the night. He walked in the ninth, coming around to score on Lindor’s dramatics. Alonso has displayed a significant improvement in plate discipline, and that came up huge in the game-winning inning.
Starling Marte, due to team injuries, has gotten increased playing time this week. He has taken advantage, contributing multi-run games against the Dodgers on Tuesday and Thursday. He also had an egregious base-running error in Thursday’s loss, getting picked off on third when the Mets looked ready to take command.
Marte got another start on Friday and chipped in with quality play. He started the seventh inning rally, getting on base with an infield single and scoring on Alonso’s double. He also reached on an infield single in the third. Marte went 2 for 4 with the run scored, giving him back-to-back performances with multiple hits. He has helped New York work through the Lindor injury.
Kodai Senga entered the season as the Mets’ biggest X-factor. He barely pitched last season due to injury, yet New York came within two wins of reaching the World Series. He has the starting rotation’s greatest ceiling to be an ace with his exceptional pitching arsenal and makeup.
Senga has been an ace throughout the season, giving up more than three runs only once. He has held the opposition under three runs in nine starts. He has an exceptional 1.59 earned run average and has mastered coolness when base runners get on. He also gives the Mets quality starts even when he is not at his best, a critical ace component.
Senga labored through his Friday evening start, allowing five hits and walking two. He allowed a double and a walk-in the third, escaping with only a run allowed. He gave up a leadoff triple in the fifth, but worked out of trouble without giving up a score. Senga has tremendous confidence developed through big-game experience. He put that on full display against the Rockies.
Fans should be happy with every win, no matter how ugly it may look, and what opportunities may be blown. Lindor came up huge, delivering the game’s biggest blow with a broken toe. That moment should be celebrated, and the Mets’ management shouldn’t be wasting time in making him captain.
Many fans have expressed pleasure with New York getting the split in Los Angeles against the class of the National League. Taking the season series against the Dodgers is huge for the tiebreaker, but more could have been gained.
The Mets blew two games that they should have won by failing in multiple RISP opportunities and by playing Little League-like defense. They should have swept the Dodgers, and many of the same issues arose Friday evening.
It is inexcusable to go 2 for 15 with men on base against by far the worst team in the game. Yes, Lindor bailed New York out, and that is wonderful. It never should have come to this. The Mets should have pushed towards 10 runs and been able to rest Lindor another day.
New York must ask itself, is the goal to make the playoffs again, or is it to win a championship? The Mets are almost certain to make the playoffs, even in a stacked NL. Winning their first World Series since 1986, though, will not happen due to the continued failures to produce in the clutch and execute sound baseball plays consistently. This has to change.
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