Francisco Lindor faced a difficult night at Citi Field on Friday, as the New York Mets began the second half of their season with an 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Lindor’s 0-for-5 performance symbolized the Mets’ ongoing offensive collapse, adding to the frustration of a fanbase hoping for a turnaround. The Mets have now dropped consecutive games, including a 3-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals before the All-Star break, and the struggles at the plate continue to intensify.
The Mets’ top four hitters managed only one hit in 16 at-bats Friday night, with Lindor’s hitting issues at the center of this disappointment. Despite recently making his All-Star debut as a Met, Lindor’s performance has been well below expectations. Even at the Midsummer Classic, he went 0-for-2 and was pulled before the sixth inning, signalling ongoing concerns about his form.
Lindor’s Recent Offensive Challenges and Accountability
Since June 1, Lindor has posted a .218 batting average and a .685 OPS across 39 games, which includes seven home runs and 21 RBIs, figures that underscore his current difficulties. Following the game against Cincinnati, Lindor openly accepted responsibility for his lackluster showing, highlighting the need to improve his approach at the plate.
I mean, I gotta swing at good pitches, No. 1, I gotta start impacting the ball a little bit better. Just not to the standards that the hitting coaches have here for all of us and not up to the standard that I have for myself, as well.
—Francisco Lindor, Mets shortstop
From my point of view, I need to have much better at-bats. Today I feel like my at-bats were not to a standard the Mets have and I should definitely be better
—Francisco Lindor, Mets shortstop
During Friday’s game, Lindor struggled repeatedly against Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo. His at-bats resulted in a foul out, a comebacker, and a shallow pop-up, demonstrating his difficulty in making solid contact. Lindor expressed frustration with his performance, emphasizing that his approach was far from the level required.
I feel like I need to have much, much better at-bats, I feel like my at-bats were not to the standard that the Mets have, and they should definitely be better.
—Francisco Lindor, postgame interview with SNYTV
The pivotal moment came in the ninth inning, when Lindor, with the bases loaded during a late Mets rally, lifted a weak fly ball to shallow right field, ending the rally and significantly diminishing the team’s chances of a comeback. Despite the offensive woes, Lindor credited Lodolo’s pitching performance, acknowledging how effective the lefty was in controlling the at-bats.
Lodolo did a really good job, so hats off to him, He executed his pitches, got us off balance, and then it became a swing competition. Then Ashcraft came in and did really well. He executed his pitches as well.
—Francisco Lindor, Mets shortstop
The Mets’ offense managed just two hits from the third through eighth innings, including limited success against reliever Graham Ashcraft, who struck out Mark Vientos and secured Lindor’s pop-up in the eighth inning.
Juan Soto contributed the lone Mets home run, his 24th of the season, but that isolated moment was not enough to overcome the Reds’ dominant pitching.
Implications of the Loss for the Mets’ Playoff Prospects
Despite the discouraging defeat, the Mets remain close to the top of the NL East, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by only half a game. They aim to regroup quickly as Clay Holmes prepares to start against Cincinnati’s Nick Martinez in Saturday’s game. Holmes enters with an 8-4 record and a 3.31 ERA, while Martinez holds a 7-9 mark and a 4.78 ERA, presenting a hopeful pitching matchup for the Mets.
However, the defensive and offensive deficiencies revealed on Friday are deeper than one game can address. The Mets’ offense has been uneven, and the bullpen showed signs of fatigue despite the rest offered by the All-Star break. With three starters recently returning from the injured list, the pitching staff has been under increased pressure. Reliever Alex Carrillo surrendered five runs in just 1⅓ innings, a costly lapse that contributed to the loss.
These struggles underline the urgent need for reinforcements as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. The Mets’ front office must consider bold moves to stabilize the bullpen and bolster the lineup if the team hopes to maintain its competitive edge in a tightly contested division.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What language does Francisco Lindor speak?
A. In an interview with The New York Post in April 2022, Lindor shared that he reached out to Reguero initially. He explained, “I sent her a message on Instagram. We chatted for three months before meeting in Arizona. We spent time together, and I thought, ‘She might be the one.'”