NEW YORK -- The New York Mets defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 Monday night, extending their lead in the National League East. The win came in the opening game of a three-game series between the rivals at Citi Field.
Francisco Lindor powered the Mets offense, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs. The star shortstop hit a leadoff home run to begin the game and later added a three-run shot in the seventh inning.
Lindor's performance mirrored his impact against the Phillies last October. He delivered a decisive grand slam in Game 4 of their Division Series, eliminating Philadelphia from the playoffs. This recent outburst follows a slow start to his season.
The win moved the New York Mets to a 16-7 record. This result pushed their division advantage over the Phillies to three games in the early [MLB Standings].
Across Major League Baseball, teams continue to compete in the initial weeks of the season. While early standings can shift rapidly, individual player performances also draw attention, as seen in the race among contenders in the [American League Rookie of the Year field].
The [5-4 win] (https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401695241/phillies-mets) marked Lindor's 20th career multi-homer game playing shortstop. Only two players have recorded more from that position, Alex Rodriguez and Ernie Banks.
His recent four-game stretch includes four home runs, highlighted by a walk-off blast. Since an 0-for-11 start in the season's first series, Lindor is batting .325 with five home runs and 13 RBIs.
Mets pitcher Tylor Megill commented on Lindor's power display against the Phillies, noting its similarity to last year's playoff result.
The Phillies' loss sees them drop further behind the Mets in the division hierarchy. The race for position in the MLB Standings remains fluid as the season progresses.
Stories of early season success, such as the AL Rookie of the Year competition between players like those highlighted in coverage such as [Kristian Campbell isn’t a runaway Rookie of the Year favorite because of one player] (https://fansided.com/kristian-campbell-isn-t-a-runaway-rookie-of-the-year-favorite-because-of-one-player), add layers to the unfolding league narrative.
