It did not take long for a familiar frustration from last season to creep back in. The New York Mets have already been down this road before, where a decision on the bases becomes the story instead of the opportunity in front of them. Those situations tend to linger because they feel preventable, especially when they occur in moments of the game where the margin for error is already thin.
After the game, though, the focus did not stay on the send from third base that led to an out at the plate. Francisco Lindor addressed it directly, pointing to his own route and backing the call in the same breath. It was a veteran response in the moment. In doing so, he made sure the attention did not stay where it probably should have.
The Mets saw Francisco Lindor take the blame after a questionable third base send
The 10th inning started exactly how every Mets fan would have drawn it up, with runners on first and second and Juan Soto at the plate. Francisco Lindor was on first, and the double into the gap should have left runners on second and third with nobody out. Instead, third base coach Tim Leiper sent Lindor home, and he was thrown out at the plate, taking the tying run off the board and forcing Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco to get a hit to tie the game.
Pirates cut down Lindor as the tying run at the plate! Mets are still threatening though pic.twitter.com/YUJgSgFe7H
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 29, 2026
After the game, Lindor made sure the attention did not stay on Leiper. “I think I would’ve scored, I took a little bad of a route,” he said. He followed that by backing the decision, adding, “I’m on board with Leip sending me there because we have talked about being aggressive. He made the right call.” It was clear he was not letting the blame land on the coach.
“I think I would’ve scored, I took a little bad of a route. I’m on board with Leip sending me there because we have talked about being aggressive. He made the right call.”
Francisco Lindor talks about Tim Leiper sending him home on Juan Soto’s double in the 10th inning: pic.twitter.com/PKGZll8nWO
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 29, 2026
Mets fans have seen this kind of send before, where an out at the plate cuts down a rally before it really gets going. Last season, those decisions at third base under Mike Sarbaugh cost the Mets chances late in games, and it became a frustration that stuck with the fans all year. When it happens again in a spot like this, it is going to bring those memories right back.
This is not about overreacting this early in the season, but it is fair to question the decision. The Mets can stay aggressive without forcing a play in that spot, especially with two hitters who were among the best in the league with runners in scoring position last season coming up.
Lindor took the blame and said all the right things after the game. Now the Mets just have to make sure this is not the start of a pattern they already know too well.