NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor is not a fan of playing in the drab, frigid weather of April weather.
Over the years, it has somewhat contributed to some slow starts. But Lindor might have been harnessing some of the chilly October heroics on Saturday night at Citi Field.
Lindor, who had a penchant for delivering one heroic moment after the other late last season and in the postseason, might be getting used to the cold weather. The Mets shortstop delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly to center field to lead the Mets to a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays in front of 37,694 fans in Flushing.
Lindor's seventh career walk-off RBI helped the Mets improve to 5-3 on the early season.
For nearly three hours on Saturday night at Citi Field, the Mets' offense matched the weather at the ballpark. The Mets badly needed a spark after they were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and had left six runners on base through seven innings.
Jesse Winker provided the desperately-needed charge on a drizzly evening. Winker blasted a game-tying two-run triple to the right field in the bottom of the eighth inning to ignite the Mets' lineup.
Winker entered the night having not knocked a triple since April 21, 2021. On Saturday, he was giving Blue Jays right fielder George Springer headaches. He knocked a leadoff double in that direction in the bottom of the second inning but was left stranded there after Mark Vientos and Brett Baty struck out in back-to-back at-bats and Jose Siri popped up into foul territory.
In the fourth inning, Winker shot a line drive midway into right field that skipped off the wet grass and passed Spring on the way to the wall. But Vientos struck out again to end the threat.
Finally, in the eighth, with the Mets trailing 2-0, Winker got his opportunity with runners on base and did not miss against Blue Jays left-hander Brendan Little. After Francisco Lindor walked and Juan Soto shot a single up the middle, Winker came up after two straight outs and drove a knuckle curve to the wall as Springer tumbled into the fence.
The Mets were playing from behind after the fifth inning when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked an RBI single off Jose Butto. The run was charged to Griffin Canning, who only lasted four innings in his second start as a member of the Mets.
Canning still managed to lower his ERA by scattering four hits and three walks to allow one run over four innings. He struck out six but a few lengthy at-bats drove his pitch count up. He was pulled after surrendering back-to-back singles to begin the fifth inning.
The Blue Jays extended their lead in the sixth off Butto with back-to-back doubles by Alan Roden and Bo Bichette.
But the Mets' offense came alive over the final two innings to grab their second straight series victory.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Francisco Lindor sacrifice fly leads team to win over Blue Jays
