DENVER — Francisco Lindor didn’t waste a moment after the bases became loaded in the ninth inning Wednesday night.
The Mets shortstop had just watched Tyrone Taylor walk on five pitches and knew that Victor Vodnik did not want to fall behind in the count to him.
Lindor saw a slider on the first pitch and smashed a line drive to left field, allowing the Mets to exhale after holding their collective breath much too long in the thin mountain air.
With Lindor’s two-run single the Mets were ahead to stay in a 5-3 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field.
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The Mets (60-54) needed this one, keeping alive their hopes of a series victory against a brutal Rockies team that fell 31 games below .500 with the loss.
Jesse Winker delivered an RBI single later in the ninth to provide a cushion for Edwin Diaz, who allowed one run in the bottom of the inning but secured the save.
The Mets improved to 3-3 on their four-city road trip.
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“We put ourselves in this position to compete for the playoffs and winning keeps our chances up,” said Lindor, whose Mets pulled within a half-game of Atlanta for the NL’s third wild card. “It’s a tough road trip, so we have got to find a way to play the game a little bit better.”
Gasping offensively when they came to bat in the ninth, the Mets used a leadoff triple from Francisco Alvarez that banged off the right-field scoreboard before Ben Gamel walked.
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Taylor’s walk loaded the bases and Lindor followed with his latest big hit in what has been his best season since arriving to the Mets.
“Bases loaded, [Vodnik] has to throw strikes,” Lindor said. “[Tuesday] he got me out and today it was my turn.”
In his previous at-bat Lindor had gotten too long in his swing.
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That concept was discussed between the manager and shortstop when Lindor returned to the dugout.
“Taking what’s given and using the whole field,” Mendoza said of Lindor’s game-winning approach. “Especially in a ballpark like this where you are going to try to go for the seats, which he did in his previous at-bat.”
Jose Butto, the most dependable arm in the Mets bullpen, pitched two scoreless innings in relief behind Paul Blackburn to give the Mets a chance.
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Blackburn had a second straight superb start to begin his Mets career.
The right-hander lasted six innings and allowed two runs, one of which was unearned, on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
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In his Mets debut last Friday, Blackburn — who arrived from Oakland at the trade deadline — allowed only one run over six innings.
On this night, Blackburn extended to 93 pitches (it was his third start off the injured list following a stress reaction in his right foot) and put an exclamation on the performance by striking out Elias Diaz to end the sixth with the go-ahead run at first base.
Pete Alonso, who entered batting only .198 with runners in scoring position, stroked an RBI single in the first for the game’s initial run.
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Lindor singled leading off the game and stole second, giving him 18 straight stolen bases, before Alonso delivered with two outs.
Alonso also stole second, but was left stranded by Jeff McNeil.
Ezequiel Tovar homered in the bottom of the inning to get the run back. Tovar’s shot to right-center hit off the top of the fence and caromed beyond it.
The homer was the first allowed by Blackburn in a Mets uniform, but his third in as many games.
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Noah Davis replaced starting pitcher Ryan Feltner for the second inning.
The Mets jumped on Davis for three singles in the frame.
Jose Iglesias singled leading off and reached third on Gamel’s single, but kept running and scored after center fielder Brenton Doyle booted the ball.
Lindor reached on a fielder’s choice and was thrown out attempting to steal second to end the inning.
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Kris Bryant’s infield RBI single in the fourth tied it 2-2.
Brendan Rodgers smacked a leadoff double and took third on Alvarez’s passed ball before Bryant’s squib along the third base line brought in the run.
