Francisco Lindor makes spring debut in Mets’ 8-1 win over Blue Jays

The New York Mets beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 Sunday afternoon at Clover Park in a rain-shortened Grapefruit League game. The final score was secondary. Francisco Lindor played shortstop for the first time in spring training after undergoing hand surgery at the start of camp, and he came out of it healthy, 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Lindor struck out swinging in the 1st, then singled to right in the 3rd and scored on a Marcus Semien sacrifice fly to make it 8-1. He reached again in the 3rd on a fielder’s choice when Toronto first baseman Charles McAdoo booted the ball. He was replaced at shortstop by Ronny Mauricio to open the 5th. 3 plate appearances, no issues.

Zach Thornton Keeps His Spring Rolling

Zach Thornton started and worked 3.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 1 strikeout and no walks. Toronto’s only run came in the 1st on a Davis Schneider sacrifice fly, scoring George Springer who had singled and moved up on a balk. After that, Thornton kept the Blue Jays off the board through the 4th. His spring ERA sits at 1.35.

The Mets did their damage early and in bunches. Toronto starter Grant Rogers gave up 6 runs in the 2nd before getting pulled, and the inning was a sequence of small mistakes compounding fast. Luis Robert Jr. singled, moved to 2nd on a balk, and scored on a Francisco Alvarez sacrifice fly. Mike Tauchman singled home Brett Baty. Semien’s sac fly brought in Tauchman. Then Bo Bichette doubled down the right field line to score Tyrone Taylor and move Lindor to 3rd, and Jorge Polanco singled to right to score Lindor. 6 runs, 1 inning, 2 pitchers.

Alvarez doubled to lead off the 3rd and scored on a Tauchman single to right, pushing it to 7-1. Semien’s second sacrifice fly of the game made it 8. Tauchman finished 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Alvarez went 1-for-2 with a double, a sac fly, and 2 RBI.

Luke Weaver threw a clean inning in the 5th. Brooks Raley and Dan Hammer each recorded 1 out. The game was called after 5.1 innings.

Lindor’s next appearance and workload ramp-up are the things to track from here as the Mets move toward the regular season opener.