NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor hit a go-ahead homer to start a four-run eighth inning and the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2 on Sunday to avoid losing their second home series this season.
Lindor snapped a 2-2 tie against Porter Hodge (2-1) by getting ahead in the count and lifting a full count sweeper over the right-center field fence. Lindor connected after hitting the same pitch for a double play in the ninth inning against Hodge in Saturday’s 6-5 loss.
Click to Gallery
Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (27) strikes out swinging during the first inning of the baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) celebrates making a home run during the sixth inning of the baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws during the second inning of the baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
New York Mets pitcher Griffin Canning (46) pitches during the third inning of the baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
New York Mets infielder Francisco Lindor (12) bats during the sixth inning of the baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Mark Vientos homered off Chicago starter Matthew Boyd to give the Mets the lead in the sixth and added an RBI single in the eighth. Brandon Nimmo padded the lead with a two-run homer off Gavin Hollowell.
The big inning gave the Mets a 15-4 home record and their eighth series win at Citi Field so far.
Luis Torrens had an RBI triple in the second and exited in the sixth after getting hit below the belt by a Kyle Tucker foul ball.
Former Mets’ first-round pick Pete Crow-Armstrong homered off Griffin Canning in the sixth and Nico Hoerner hit a tying double in the seventh as the Cubs lost for the fourth time in five games.
Ryne Stanek (1-3) struck out Crow-Armstrong for the second out of a scoreless eighth to earn the win and set up the big bottom half. Into the seventh, Garrett kept the game tied by retiring Dansby Swanson and Justin Turner for the final two outs.
The Cubs went 0-for-7 off Canning’s changeup. … All five of Vientos’ homers are off lefties after he hit seven of his 27 off southpaws last season.
Cubs RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 2.43 ERA) opposes Miami RHP Cal Quantrill (2-3, 7.11) in the opener of a three-game series in Chicago on Monday.
Mets LHP David Peterson (2-2, 3.05) opposes RHP Paul Skenes (3-4, 2.77) in the opener of a three-game series against visiting Pittsburgh on Monday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (27) strikes out swinging during the first inning of the baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) celebrates making a home run during the sixth inning of the baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws during the second inning of the baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
New York Mets pitcher Griffin Canning (46) pitches during the third inning of the baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
New York Mets infielder Francisco Lindor (12) bats during the sixth inning of the baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.
The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.
But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.
“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”
U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.
But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.
The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.
Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.
Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.
Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”
About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.
The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.
But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.
At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.
Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.
Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”
Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
