Big night for Francisco Lindor, solid steps for Juan Soto in Mets' win

New York Times

a day ago

NEW YORK — And finally, after weeks of struggling with an average on the interstate, New York's superstar came through with a big game.
Is it Juan Soto or Francisco Lindor we're talking about?
For the Mets, it was both Friday night. In a 4-2 win over the Rockies, Lindor homered from both sides of the plate, and Soto delivered just his second multihit game in three weeks. It was a night of exhaling for the Mets' linchpins.
Multi-homer game for @Lindor12BC 👏 pic.twitter.com/TvOoq7rv6z
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 31, 2025
Start with Soto, who has been the alpha and omega of every conversation about the Mets for weeks. A lukewarm start through the first six weeks had turned frigid over the last three: 7-for-59 with one extra-base hit in his last 16 games entering Friday.
So David Stearns' pregame press conference was largely about Soto — what's looked different, when that could change, and what support from the organization looks like in the meantime.
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'I think he's probably trying to do a little bit too much right now,' Stearns said. 'And that is natural for a player who cares.'
In the third, Soto came through with a two-out double to right-center, scoring Lindor from first. It was his second extra-base hit over the last three weeks. He also led off the sixth with a single.
'Anytime you come through for the team, it's always a good feeling,' Soto said. 'I know I've been struggling and I haven't been there for the team. I will be.'
'He's had good at-bats,' Lindor said. 'Today the ball fell for him.'
While Soto's slump has sucked up all the oxygen around the Mets, Lindor was quietly going through it on the offensive end. He had been 8-for-55 in his last 14 games entering Friday night.
A leadoff homer from the right side opened the scoring, and a solo shot from the left side in the eighth closed it. In between, he singled up the middle.
Lindor talked about getting his body in the right alignment through some physical therapy.
'I'm healthy,' he said. '(I'm) making sure my body's moving correctly.'
Manager Carlos Mendoza was especially happy to see Lindor drive the ball the opposite way from the left side for the eighth-inning homer.
'When you see him going to left-center from the left side, that's when he's clicking,' Mendoza said. '(He's) in position to make some really good swing decisions and hit the ball with authority.'
Lindor's numbers from the right side have been uncharacteristically poor to start the year. Even after the homer Friday, he said he's 'still not there' from that side.
The same could be said for the Mets offense through 57 games this season. Lindor and Pete Alonso carried the club through April. It's been a tougher slog in May, with Brett Baty just about the only Met exceeding expectations this month. Soto has been in the spotlight, but he entered Friday with a better OPS in May than Lindor, Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos — the other guys hitting first through fifth Friday.
The Mets have shown they don't need all those bats to get hot to win. But the task gets a heck of a lot easier if a couple of them warm up.
'It's a matter of time,' Soto said of himself. The Mets hope that goes for the entire lineup.
(Photo of Francisco Lindor: Al Bello / Getty Images)