Have You Seen This? Lindor grand slam sends Mets to 1st NLCS in nearly a decade
by Caleb Turner, KSL.com · KSL.comEstimated read time: 1-2 minutes
ALL ABOARD THE GRIMACE TRAIN — The New York Mets were held scoreless for five innings in Game 4 of the NLDS Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
But Francisco Lindor only needed one hit to flip the script.
Lindor's sixth-inning grand slam gave the Mets a 4-1 series-clinching win to advance to their first NLCS since 2015 and made him just the third player ever to hit a lead-flipping slam in the sixth inning or later to clinch a series for their team.
"They were famished for the big hit all night," radio play-by-play analyst Howie Rose said after the hit. "And Francisco Lindor just provided a feast!"
It was Lindor's first home run of the postseason and delivered the biggest moment in a Mets uniform for the Puerto Rican, nicknamed "Mr. Smile," since arriving in New York in 2021.
The hit came just six days after the Mets' magical run reached its first milestone with an NL Wild Card Series-clinching home run from Pete Alonso against the Milwaukee Brewers.
While the on-field magic belongs to players like Lindor and Alonso, fans have also heaped plenty of praise off the field on McDonald's mascot Grimace.
After the purple gentle giant threw out the first pitch at Citi Field on June 12, the Mets went on a seven-game win streak and have gone 66-38 ever since.
The team gave Grimace his own purple seat at Citi Field and a New York subway car bears his image after he rode the train with Mets fans to a playoff game.
Whether it's big hits or McDonald's magic, the Mets certainly have something good going.
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Caleb Turner
Caleb Turner covers Real Salt Lake as the team's beat writer for KSL.com Sports. He also oversees the sports team's social media accounts.