MILF: Man I Love Francisco Lindor

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Francisco Lindor was a triple shy of the cycle and Nolan McLean threw six shutout innings as the Mets took the series from the Philadelphia Phillies, winning yesterday 6-1.

It was clear from the beginning that Phillies fifth starter Alan Rangel just didn’t have it. He got the first two outs just fine in the top of the first before Bo Bichette drew an 11-pitch walk. This allowed Lindor to see everything Rangel’s got in his arsenal from the on-deck circle. On a 1-0 pitch, Lindor slugged a 420 foot dinger to right to give the Mets an early 2-0 advantage. 

The party continued in the top of the second. Brett Baty, forced to play right field and then first base just so Marcus Semien can get a golden sombrero, singled to right center. Luis Torrens struck a double to left to score Baty. Juan Soto drew a one-out walk in front of Bichette, who dunked a bloop single to load the bases. Lindor followed with a base knock of his own, scoring Torrens. Carson Benge then muscled a sacrifice fly to right to make it 5-0 New York (NL).

That would prove to be more than enough for Mr. McLean. After a 1-2-3 first, Alec Bohm hit a comebacker off of McLean’s shin with one out in the second that caused some concern, but he shook it off. After walking Bryson Stott, McLean got a delicious 6-4-3 double play out of JT Realmuto to end the inning. After that, he retired the next 11 batters he faced.

The Mets would end up stranding 15 runners on base, so it’s not like they were a completely different team. In Rangel’s last inning, the 4th, Bichette singled and advanced to second on a Lindor walk. But Benge grounded out to Bryce Harper at first. The suddenly en fuego Tyrone Taylor doubled off of the lefty Tim Mayza to start the fifth - he got picked off trying to steal third before Mayza released the ball. 

New York (NL) tacked on in the sixth. Torrens singled, AJ Ewing reached on an infield hit, and Soto stroked an RBI single after that. Enter Max Lazar. Bichette hit into a weird 3-6 fielder’s choice that should have been a double play but Lazar received the throw from second from behind first base. Lindor walked to load the bases just for Benge to strike out and Taylor to innocently ground out to short. 

McLean struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the sixth before Trea Turner doubled to left. He then walked Kyle Schwarber, forcing Andy Green to get A.J. Minter up and moving. With the count 2-2 though, McLean froze Harper on a nasty sinker to finish his day. Six innings, two hits allowed, two walks, 10 punch outs, zero runs. McLean loves pitching against the Phillies, and I love watching him fall in love with the experience.

Minter made sure the game wasn’t a blowout when, with one out in the seventh, Alec Bohm pulled a pitch over the fence. Fortunately, nobody was on base, but then Stott and Realmuto hit back-to-back singles. Just when the Phillies comeback was inevitable, pinch hitter Edmundo Sosa bounced into a 5-4-3 double play. 

Huascar Brazobán worked around an 11-pitch walk to Turner and handled the eighth. Cionel Pérez permitted a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth before handling the next three hitters to finish the Met victory.

Whenever the Mets take a series in Philadelphia, it’s worthy of some celebration, even if the team is actively looking to give up on the season. So, I don’t know, treat yourself to an extra helping of your favorite breakfast food today.

Chelsea Janes hung out with Francisco Lindor in the visitors’ clubhouse before yesterday’s game. Considering how well he did, he might invite her in before every game. In any case, when he was asked about the trade rumors, he said, “It doesn’t bother me when it’s coming from outside sources. When it’s more inside, that would bother me. But that’s not happening.” 

Steve Gelbs gave Citizens Bank Ballpark hot dogs a 6.8 rating. The full list of his rankings can be found here. Oracle Park remains to be the clubhouse leader. 

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets fell to the Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays affiliate) 7-3. 1B Christopher Morel went 2 for 4 with a run scored - his Triple-A batting average is now .314 and his OPS is .994. 3B Christian Arroyo homered. RHP Robert Stock got a no-decision. He gave up one run on three hits in four innings, walking none and striking out three in the process. RHP Tobias Myers permitted two runs on two hits in two innings following Stock. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies also lost 7-3. In this case, the Akron RubberDucks (Guardians) were the victors. 3B Nick Lorusso went 2 for 4 with a run scored. LHP Jonathan Santucci was handed the L. He allowed four earned runs on six hits in five and two thirds innings. He walked two and struck out…13! 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones lost both games of a doubleheader to the Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) by the scores of 14-2 and 5-2. CF John Bay went 2 for 3 with two doubles and a run scored in Game 1. RHP Jose Chirinos got the loss in Game 2. He gave up three runs on three hits in five innings of work. Chirinos walked one and fanned five. 

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets held on to defeat the Palm Beach Cardinals 8-6. CF Trey Snyder had a day. He went 4 for 5 with a home run and a triple, two runs scored, five RBI, and a stolen base. DH Mike Tauchman went 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored. Opener RHP Ethan Lanthier tossed two and one third shutout frames, allowing just one hit while walking one and punching out four. 

The Mets retired David Wright’s #5 one year ago today.

15 years ago today, Ángel Pagán hit a walk-off solo home run to beat the Cardinals 6-5. The ball landed right below Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling, who were announcing the game from the Pepsi Porch.

Tonight the Mets begin a series in Milwaukee, David Stearns’ old haunt. RHP Freddy Peralta (5-8 4.66 ERA 4.25 xFIP) will make his return there as he has the unenviable task of matching up with RHP Jacob “Miz” Misiorowski (10-4 1.62 ERA 2.10 xFIP). First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY and Audacy Radio 880 AM with Keith Raad and Pat McCarthy.