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Mets' Francisco Lindor Outsmarts Cardinals on Crafty Play to Bring Home Extra Run

Tom Dierberger

Lindor and the Mets opened a four-game series against the Cardinals on Thursday night.
Lindor and the Mets opened a four-game series against the Cardinals on Thursday night. / SNY
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New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor can add third base coach to his résumé later Thursday night.

With two on and two outs in the second inning of the Mets' series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field, Lindor rapped a single to right field. Brett Baty easily scored from second base, but to get Tyrone Taylor across home plate from first, Lindor had to get a bit creative.

Lindor bolted for second base once right fielder Jordan Walker fired the ball home. When the throw was cut off by first baseman Willson Contreras, Lindor found himself in a rundown.

Caught in the middle of the baseline, Lindor stopped in his tracks to force Contreras to run at him. He then signaled across the diamond to Taylor, who was near third base, to head home.

Disaster struck for St. Louis. Contreras had his back to home plate as he chased down Lindor, and by the time he threw the baseball to shortstop Brendan Donovan, Taylor was sliding into home plate. Lindor was tagged out for the final out—but after Taylor crossed home, so both runs counted.

Now that's a heads-up play.

Lindor and the Mets entered Thursday's game with an 11-7 record, good for first place in the NL East.

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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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