Francisco Lindor’s Mistakes Lead to Mets’ 11-Inning Loss
ST. LOUIS — Francisco Lindor faced a challenging game on Wednesday as the New York Mets suffered a tight 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals that extended into 11 innings. Lindor, the Mets’ shortstop, was held hitless in four at-bats, but it was his mistakes on the field that drew the most attention.
Key Errors by Lindor
During the game, Lindor’s performance was marred by significant blunders:
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Mental Misjudgment: In the bottom of the first inning, Lindor made a critical error by forgetting the number of outs. After forcing Alec Burleson out at second base, he jogged off the field instead of making the throw to first base, which would have resulted in an inning-ending double play.
- Being Picked Off: Later in the game, Lindor reached first base due to an error but was picked off by pitcher Matthew Liberatore, leaving him caught off-guard.
Lindor reflected on his mistakes following the game, stating, “I forgot the outs. I made a mistake that probably cost Peralta to go an extra inning and more pitches after that. Inexcusable.”
Francisco Lindor is tagged out by first baseman Alec Burleson during the sixth inning of the Mets’ loss to the Cardinals.
Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Manager’s Perspective
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged Lindor’s performance, stating, "He knows he made a mistake. Peralta did a hell of a job picking him up, finishing that inning." Mendoza differentiated between the mistakes, emphasizing that while Lindor’s first error was "inexcusable," he viewed the pick-off as an aggressive move rather than a mental lapse.
Freddy Peralta’s Performance
Despite Lindor’s struggles, pitcher Freddy Peralta rose to the occasion. He allowed just one earned run during his stint, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in 92 pitches. Peralta credited his successful outing to his changeup, stating, “I have got a lot of trust with [the changeup] and I thought it was time to use it today.”
Notable Highlights
- Juan Soto continued his impressive streak against the Cardinals, extending his on-base streak to 41 games with a homer during the game.
- The Mets’ loss pushes their resolve as they aim to bounce back in future games.
Conclusion
The Mets will look to regroup and learn from the errors made in this tight contest. Lindor’s experience serves as a reminder of the high stakes in baseball, where a single miscalculated decision can impact the outcome profoundly.
For more in-depth coverage, check out Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively available on Sports+.
