The Late Show with Francisco Lindor

Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer and made an impressive defensive play in the bottom of the ninth to help preserve a tight 5-4 Mets victory in Arizona.

Griffin Canning got the start for the Mets. Things immediately went sideways for him - Corbin Carroll led off the bottom of the first with a home run to right center. Canning then permitted a sharp Ketel Marte single to right, and it was looking like it was going to be a long late night. But Canning struck out Pavin Smith on his slider and got Josh Naylor to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.

For the first three innings, the Mets struggled to score off of Ryne Nelson, the Diamondbacks’ spot starter tasked with replacing the injured Corbin Burnes. With one out in the top of the third, Tyrone Taylor tripled to right center, but he tried and failed to score when Francisco LIndor flied out to Corbin Carroll in right. Fortunately, Pete Alonso (eventually) re-signed with the Mets during the offseason. After Juan Soto walked to start the top of the fourth, Alonso hit a ball with a 111.6 mph exit velocity 425 feet to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. 

Canning ended up just throwing 77 pitches after five innings, but he was really erratic facing his first batter in the sixth, so he got the hook. Canning’s final line: five innings, six hits allowed, one earned run, one walk, six strikeouts. Huascar Brazobán threw two scoreless innings, even though he pitched the day before. 

The top of the seventh proved to be the difference. With the score still 2-1 New York, Francisco Alvarez reached on an infield hit. After Jeff McNeil struck out, Taylor doubled to left, moving Alvarez to third. This set-up Francisco Lindor to deposit a 1-2 slider near the pool behind the right center field fence. This made it 5-1. 

Dedniel Nuñez made his 2025 MLB debut in the eighth, aaaand he currently still doesn’t have an ERA. He walked all three batters he faced. Reed Garrett struck out Pavin Smith to start, but Josh Naylor singled in Geraldo Perdomo. Then Eugenio Suárez hit a ball to straightaway center field that would have been a home run in 21 ballparks. It clearly was either going to be gone or bounce off the wall. Two of the three baserunners seemingly understood this. The third, Josh Naylor at first, played it way too conservatively, and ended up on second base instead of on third or possibly scoring. It was 5-4 Mets, but it probably should have been tied. Garrett struck out Gabriel Moreno with a splitter, then got Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to foul out to Alvarez behind home plate. Crisis averted. Kinda.

There was still the Edwin Díaz Experience to deal with. But to be fair the bottom of the ninth was dramatic not because of Sugar but because of a Pete Alonso throwing error that got Alek Thomas on first. Thomas then tried to steal second. Sarah Langs would later tweet that Alvarez’s pop time was 1.82 seconds, a personal record for him out of all the times he nabbed a runner trying to get to second. But a lot of credit goes to Lindor and his tag. 

After replay, the call on the field stood (it was not “confirmed”, which means there wasn’t substantial evidence proving he was out, but there wasn’t proof he was safe either.) The momentum completely shifted in the Metsies’ favor. Perdomo flew out to left and Corbin Carroll struck out on a slider to end it. 

The Mets got into Arizona late the night before and still managed to win. A possible candidate for Amazin’ Finishes 2025. 

Griffin Canning became the first Met pitcher to win five consecutive starts since Zack Wheeler in 2018. One of those stats that reminds us that Jacob deGrom got royally screwed by anemic offense for nearly a decade.

So yeah, A.J. Minter is done for the year. He’ll undergo surgery to repair his torn lat on Monday. 

Jesse Winker will be out an estimated six to eight weeks with a grade 2 right oblique strain. Hopefully he’ll rehab while travelling with the team, for vibe reasons. Brett Baty replaced him on the 26-man roster. As Gary Cohen pointed out, this ironically gives Mendoza more flexibility with how he uses the DH. For example, he can put Vientos at DH and Baty at third to make the defense stronger.

Brandon Sproat the GOAT is struggling with his change-up. It’s moving too fast and is thus too similar to his fastball, which is moving slower than usual. But the cold weather has something to do with that.

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies welcomed John Oliver to their home.

Tim Healey is leaving Newsday for the Boston Globe. Healey had been the Mets beat writer for Newsday since 2018. He had the unenviable task of replacing the great Marc Carig, who was the first scribe not afraid to really go after the Wilpons. But Healey did a good job, so much so that Anthony DiComo called him a “pest” (complimentary), and he’ll be missed. 

Mrs. Met is on the ballot for the Mascot Hall of Fame. If she gets in she’d be the first female mascot to make it. 

Jeremy Hefner appeared on Meet at the Apple.

Keith Hernandez heaped praise upon the Billy Bob Thornton show Landman. I “joked” that he’s the only one who watches it. Bluesky seemingly agreed with me. A bunch of people on Twitter told me I was mistaken, and some of them seemed angry with me, because Twitter.

Nolan McLean is moving up to Triple-A Syracuse.

Zach Thornton and Jacob Reimer were named South Atlantic League (High-A) Pitcher of the Month and Player of the Month respectively. A.J. Ewing was named Florida State League (Low-A) PotM. 

93-year-old Jim Marshall, the oldest living Met, was honored last night at Chase Field. 

Here’s Brandon Nimmo talking Star Wars and doing a Wookiee impression.

42 years ago today, Darryl Strawberry made his MLB debut in a crazy extra inning win over the Reds.

38 years ago today, Keith Hernandez was elected the first captain in Met history. He hated it. 

On this day in 1931, Willie Mays was born.

Tonight the Mets look to take the series from the Arizona Diamondbacks. David Peterson (2-1, 3.06 ERA) will face off against Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.93 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY and will be simulcast on MLB Network.