ATLANTA (AP) — Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor missed his eighth straight game with back discomfort Tuesday night but was on deck to pinch hit when New York made the final out of a 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor “could be in play" for Wednesday — although heavy rain is in the forecast.
Prior to the opener of a critical three-game series, Lindor spoke with reporters wearing a heavy heat wrap on his back and said he would work out before the game to determine if he was healthy enough to come off the bench. Lindor had a bone scan Monday that revealed no structural damage to his back, which he said meant there would likely be no further threat of injury if he tried to play.
“He’s going to try to push it again and he’s going to let me know if he is available for today or not,” Mendoza said before the game. “That was the case on Sunday, and after the workout, he said he was not there yet. He's going to be very honest with us. He's not going to put himself at risk or the team at risk.”
Lindor has played only one inning in the past 10 games. But the Mets went 6-1 without him on a homestand that ended Sunday and they hold one of three National League wild cards with five games remaining in a tight race that also includes San Diego, Arizona and Atlanta.
Lindor said he would be willing to return as a designated hitter if the team felt that was best. He said he needs to get to the point where if he feels pain while playing, it does not linger.
“It is more important for me that the pain comes, and then goes,” Lindor said. “Before, when I hit the ball and started running, it wasn’t letting go. It can’t be that constant, I can’t move, I can’t move, I can’t move. That will put me in a spot where I can’t do what I need to do.”
Rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña has replaced Lindor at shortstop and fared well, batting .375 with three home runs since being called up from the minors on Sept. 14.
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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor sits in the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor sits in the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox remained tied with the 1962 New York Mets for the modern major league record of 120 losses in a season, rallying to score three runs in the eighth inning and beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Andrew Benintendi hit a tiebreaking, two-out single to help the White Sox (37-120) stave off infamy for at least one more night.
Fans voiced their displeasure with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf by chanting “Sell the team!” throughout the game and booed when Los Angeles’ Eric Wagaman grounded out to end it, apparently unhappy they didn’t get to witness history.
Jonathan Cannon pitched three-hit ball over six scoreless innings for Chicago. The White Sox have five games left to set a record no team wants: two more against the Angels and three at Detroit.
The White Sox had never dropped more than 106 games prior to this year. They passed that mark with plenty of time to spare when the New York Mets beat them on Sept. 1.
Chicago tied the American League record of 119 losses at San Diego on Saturday and matched the ’62 Mets the following day. But with a chance to lose more games than any team since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, the White Sox rallied.
Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the seventh when Kevin Pillar led off with a walk and Wagaman lined a double to right-center against Gus Varland. Jack López connected in the eighth against Prelander Berroa (1-0) for his first career homer to make it 2-0.
Hunter Strickland (3-2) gave up back-to-back doubles to Zach DeLoach and pinch-hitter Bryan Ramos with one out in the eighth to cut it to 2-1. He walked Lenyn Sosa, putting runners on first and second before Brock Burke retired Nicky Lopez on a fly to right.
The White Sox then tied it when second baseman Jack López got twisted around and was unable to catch Luis Robert Jr.’s high pop. Robert was credited with an infield hit. Benintendi then lined his go-ahead single to left.
Cannon came through with another terrific outing after beating Los Angeles last week. Justin Anderson worked the ninth for his first save.
Jack Kochanowicz pitched three-hit ball over seven innings for Los Angeles.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: The Angels have not completely ruled out 3B Anthony Rendon (oblique strain) playing again this season, though manager Ron Washington indicated it's unlikely. “Still working though that," Washington said. “We haven’t made a total decision on that yet, but we’re still working through it. I think you make a common-sense deduction, you can answer that one yourself.” Rendon has not played since Sept. 7, the third time in yet another interrupted season that the 34-year-old has been sidelined by injury. ... OF Jordyn Adams was out of the lineup for a fourth straight game with right knee soreness.
UP NEXT
White Sox RHP Davis Martin (0-5, 4.27 ERA) looks to get some payback for a loss at Los Angeles last week and pick up his first win since 2022. LHP José Suarez (1-2, 6.08) makes his third start and 22nd appearance for the Angels.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Los Angeles Angels Mickey Moniak steals second base as Chicago White Sox's Nicky Lopez reaches for the throw during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward steals second base as Chicago White Sox's Nicky Lopez reaches for the throw during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago White Sox's Lenyn Sosa, left, celebrates with Luis Robert Jr., right, after a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago White Sox's Lenyn Sosa scores on Andrew Benintendi's RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Chicago White Sox's Andrew Benintendi hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
