The Mets are playoff bound, as an improbable comeback in the ninth inning came courtesy of Francisco Lindor, who blasted his 33rd home run of the season to right center to turn a 7-6 deficit into an 8-6 lead.
It was Lindor’s 33rd home run of the season, and came after he lined a single up the middle during New York’s rally in the eighth.
Lindor’s heroics was the perfect capper on a regular season that will likely have him finish as the NL MVP runner-up, and Evan and Joe B were in agreement that the home run puts the shortstop in the pantheon of Mets heroes.
“Francisco Lindor, I’m sorry any of us ever doubted you,” Evan said. “You said, ‘Listen, you choking bastards. Get on my back.’ And he delivered.
“God knows how bad that back is right now. For what he did [Sunday] in a very important game, and to come up in the ninth inning after that gut punch of imploding in the bottom of the eighth, to hit that home run, I think Lindor has furthered himself with all Mets fans that he is our guy. If this season didn’t do it, this moment was that epic Met moment.”
Joe Benigno had his issues with Lindor during his first couple seasons in Queens, but his ascent after a slow start to the season paralleled the Mets’ improbable rise up the standings, and he believes Monday’s home run cemented Lindor as the best shortstop in team history.
“Francisco Lindor has now gone by Jose Reyes as the greatest shortstop in the history of the Mets,” Joe said. “I don’t think there’s any question about it. He solidified it this year with this incredible year, and this game-winning home run to put us in the playoffs, the most improbable playoff berth we’ve ever had.”