PHOENIX (AP) — The New York Mets have been waiting for Francisco Lindor to be himself on the baseball field. They’re hoping the wait may be over.
Lindor, signed to a $341 million, 10-year deal on April 1, had three hits and scored the winning run in the ninth inning in the Mets’ 7-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. It was just his second three-hit game of the season and lifted his batting average to .209, his highest mark since April 27.
“I feel confident,” Lindor said. “I’m hitting the pitches I’m supposed to hit hard or fouling them off. It makes you feel good to help the team offensively.”
Lindor snapped a 6-6 tie by scoring on Pete Alonso’s single in the ninth. He was at the center of a Mets attack that collected 16 hits, one short of tying a season high.
James McCann homered and drove in four, and New York’s second through fifth hitters — Lindor, McCann, Alonso, Kevin Pillar and Dominic Smith — were a combined 13 of 24 with six RBIs.
“He’s been consistent with his approach,” New York manager Luis Rojas said of Lindor. “One thing I’m seeing more is he’s using the big part of the field. I think that’s giving him a chance. He’s getting the barrel to the ball and he’s using the whole field. ”
Miguel Castro (2-1) got the win with two scoreless innings, and Edwin Díaz recorded his 10th save after blowing his first opportunity of the season Tuesday.
Arizona starter Madison Bumgarner lasted just two innings, his shortest outing since Aug. 9, 2020. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits, and his ERA climbed to 5.73. Manager Torey Lovullo said Bumgarner was experiencing discomfort in his left shoulder and would get an MRI.
Lovullo said he noticed Bumgarner was in some pain in the second inning and, “Once we discovered that discomfort, it was a…
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