DENVER — The element of surprise was likely on Francisco Lindor’s side Saturday night.
Lindor, back in the lineup after missing two straight starts with a broken right pinky toe, not only delivered a 3-for-5 performance against the Rockies but stole second base twice.
“I am sure no one expected me to go,” Lindor said after the Mets’ 8-1 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field. “I took advantage of that and tried to make something happen.”
Lindor a night earlier delivered a pinch-hit, two-run double in the ninth inning that provided the Mets with their margin of victory.
The sight of Lindor taking off twice for second base with a broken toe hardly shocked manager Carlos Mendoza.
“He’s a player and he’s not going to back down,” Mendoza said. “If he’s in the lineup he’s not going to use [the injury] as an excuse. He’s full go. We saw it right away. Two of them. Great job but we’re not surprised by it.”
Frankie Montas is scheduled to throw 80 pitches in a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.
Mendoza indicated the right-hander, who is rehabbing a torn lat, will need at least one additional start before he’s considered for the Mets rotation.
Francisco Alvarez isn’t lacking too much in the hit column, but packing punch has been another issue altogether.
The Mets catcher, who did not play as Luis Torrens started in Saturday’s night win, has an anemic .299 slugging percentage, including a stretch of 24 games in which he had totaled just two extra-base hits.
“I am going to drive the ball at some point,” Alvarez said. “I feel good where I am.”
He is in a 5-for-20 (.250) stretch over his last five games.
Alvarez is awaiting the birth of a daughter (the due date is Monday), so Hayden Senger joined the taxi squad in case Alvarez has to depart before Sunday’s series finale.
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