Lindor hits 1st walk-off homer for Mets, 250th home run of career, in 5-4 win over Cardinals

NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor knew. He didn't have to watch.

He turned on an inside cutter from Ryan Fernandez leading off the ninth inning and sent the ball soaring into Citi Field's second deck in right field, 401 feet away.

“I hit it with everything I had,” he said. “If that one didn’t go, I was going to run out of luck.”

Lindor's home run, the 250th of his major league career, lifted the New York Mets over the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Friday night and sent smoke rising from the Home Run Apple in center field.

He started to watch the ball head toward the seats, then turned away and decided there was no reason to observe the remainder of its parabolic journey.

“I kept my face in the dugout with the guys,” Lindor said. “I don’t even know where the ball landed. I knew it was going to be a home run.”

New York overcame deficits of 2-0 in the fifth and 3-2 in the sixth, then took a 4-3 lead on Luis Torrens' RBI double in the eighth. The Mets blew that advantage when Huascar Brazobán allowed Brendan Donovan home run starting the top of the ninth, a drive off the netting of the foul pole in right.

Brazobán struck out Jordan Walker, Thomas Saggese and Pedro Pagés in order to bring up the 31-year-old Lindor, a centerpiece of the Mets' revival that saw them reach last year's NL Championship Series.

Lindor took a cutter that bounced and a fastball for a strike, then feasted on the 1-1 pitch for his first walk-off homer with the Mets, the third of his major league career and first since 2018 with Cleveland.

“That’s why he’s an elite player and a special player, because the moment is never too big for him,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He knows what’s at stake and he lives for those moments and he came through again today. Special player, special person.”

Lindor became the 254th player with 250 homers and just the fifth to hit that amount primarily as a shortstop. He was the first to reach the mark with a walk-off.

“There's a lot that defines him, not only moments like this,” Mendoza said. “As soon as he gets to the ballpark, he’s impacting people in a positive way, just his presence, his interactions, the way he pushes people, the way he encourages people — and not only players, but coaches, support staff, everyone in this building. His presence, you could feel it every time he’s around.”

New York built a formidable top of the order, signing outfielder Juan Soto to a record $765 million, 15-year contract and then keeping first baseman Pete Alonso with a $54 million, two-year deal. The Mets lead the NL East ar 13-7 and are 7-1 at Citi Field.

“That’s as tough a one-two-three as you’re going to see just about anywhere in the league,” Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas said after allowing a tying RBI single in the fifth to Soto, who had been in a 3-for-31 slide.

Acquired from Cleveland in January 2021 in the Mets' first big move after Steve Cohen bought the team, Lindor helped build a winning culture in a team that hasn't won the World Series since 1986.

“He obviously has a lot of leadership in him and he takes on that role really well,” Mets pitcher David Peterson said. “Doesn’t hurt being the best shortstop in the game.”

A four-time All-Star, Lindor hit .273 with 33 homers and 91 RBIs last year, a fan favorite who sparks sing-alongs at Citi Field since adopting The Temptations' “My Girl” as his walk-up song last May.

Lindor ended the Mets other other walk-off win this season with a sacrifice fly against Toronto on April 5.

“I’m not a big fan of teammates that just talk the talk and they don’t do what they’re supposed to do,” he said. “So I take it very personal. I take it very — too hard. If I talk, I mean it. I’m just not just going to talk just for the sake of it.”

Asked what went through his mind as he circled the bases, Lindor recalled looking ahead to Saturday and a forecast of balmy conditions.

“We won. We get to go home,” he said. “I’m done with this cold weather.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) gestures to teammates as he runs the bases after hitting a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) follows through on a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, left, watches as New York Mets' Francisco Lindor hits a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Teammates dunk water on New York Mets' Francisco Lindor after a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, April 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)