Lindor shines with two home runs as Mets defeat Phillies

On April 21, 2025, in New York, Francisco Lindor delivered a stellar performance, hitting two home runs as the New York Mets secured a narrow 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of their three-game series. This marked the first encounter of the 2025 season between the two NL East rivals, who last faced each other in the 2024 Division Series, where the Mets eliminated the Phillies from the playoffs. Lindor's first homer was a leadoff shot, and his second was a three-run blast that contributed significantly to the score, allowing the Mets to hold onto the win despite a late rally from the Phillies. The Mets, with this victory, improved to 10-1 at home, showcasing their strong start to the season with a 16-7 record and extending their division lead over Philadelphia to three games. On the mound, Tylor Megill provided a solid performance, striking out 10 batters over 5 1/3 innings while allowing only one hit and no runs. Even as the Mets held a comfortable lead through the later innings, the Phillies fought back in the ninth. A notable highlight was J.T. Realmuto's RBI single, followed by Bryson Stott's three-run homer, which momentarily threatened to flip the game in favor of Philadelphia. However, Edwin Díaz managed to strike out key hitters to close out the game effectively. Lindor's performance not only marked his fifth home run of the season but also underscored a turnaround from his slow start in 2024, where he struggled significantly at the beginning of the season. This game was particularly significant for Lindor as it was his 20th multihomer game as a shortstop, reaffirming his spot among the top performers in Major League Baseball's history. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza commented on Lindor's focus and approach, emphasizing that the star player has shifted from overthinking his performances to concentrating on the process of preparation and execution. With this early-season matchup serving as a reminder of their playoff confrontation just months before, the Mets not only emphasized their strong squad dynamics but potentially foreshadowed a competitive rivalry for the season ahead. The next game between these two teams is set to feature Mets pitcher Griffin Canning against Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez, adding more intrigue to this emboldened rivalry in the National League East.