Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor exits game with left calf tightness, will have MRI on Thursday

NEW YORK (AP) — No sooner did the struggling New York Mets get a star player back than another one went down with a similar injury.

Francisco Lindor was removed Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins with left calf tightness, just hours after teammate Juan Soto came off the injured list. The switch-hitting shortstop will have an MRI on Thursday, putting the top of New York's punchless batting order in flux once more.

“Here we go again," manager Carlos Mendoza said.

New York (8-16) ended its 12-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota, but it might have come at a cost.

“We’ve got to wait and see what we’re dealing with,” Mendoza said.

Lindor labored around the bases while scoring from first on Francisco Alvarez's one-out double up the right-center alley in the fourth inning. He grimaced as he rounded third and paused for a bit from the seat of his pants after beating the relay throw with a feetfirst slide.

“I knew right away when he was rounding third base that something wasn’t right there. So, we’ll see what we’ve got,” Mendoza said. "Right away, he scores and you could see his face. Looking from the dugout, I knew something wasn’t right.”

Lindor headed down the dugout tunnel with an athletic trainer and was replaced in the lineup by Brett Baty, who entered at third base in the top of the fifth. Bo Bichette slid over from third base to shortstop.

Batting cleanup, Lindor knocked in a run when he legged out an infield single with two outs in the first. Moments earlier, he made an outstanding leaping grab at shortstop for the second out of the game.

Soto was reinstated from the 10-day IL earlier in the day. The slugging outfielder had been sidelined since straining his right calf while running from first to third on April 3 in San Francisco.

“We got good news, relatively good news with Soto, and it was still three weeks,” Mendoza said. "So, we’ll see what we’re dealing with.”

After a slow start this season, Lindor was starting to come on recently. He launched a three-run homer Tuesday night and is hitting .226 with two home runs and five RBIs.

“Can’t sit here and make excuses. It’s all part of it. We lost Soto, and we had a hard time," Mendoza said. “Another really good player, and we’ve got to figure it out.”

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

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) runs toward home plate to score on a double by Francisco Alvarez during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor follows through on a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor (12) runs past Minnesota Twins' Kody Clemens (2) to reach first base for a single during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor hits an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, left, slides past Minnesota Twins catcher Victor Caratini to score on a double by Francisco Alvarez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

DETROIT (AP) — Ben Wallace and Rick Mahorn, like proud uncles, watched the Detroit Pistons pound the Orlando Magic in the paint and meet them at the rim in a 98-83 win that tied their first-round series at a game apiece.

“I'm sure they appreciated it,” Pistons power forward Isaiah Stewart said.

Wallace, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Mahorn, an enforcer for the Bad Boys, helped the Pistons win a lot of games that looked like Wednesday night's slugfest.

Stewart had two blocks, including one that denied Paolo Banchero a dunk.

“I’m willing to lay my body on the line to make those plays for the energy,” Stewart said.

Top-seeded Detroit held eighth-seeded Orlando to 33% shooting and season lows in points and field goals. The Pistons forced 19 turnovers and blocked 11 shots.

“When we play defense at the level we’re capable of, it triggers everything for us,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We can be an elite defensive team, a disruptive defense. It's Pistons basketball. That’s what it looks like.

“We had one off night and it came at a bad time.”

In Game 1, the Pistons had a sluggish start in each half and allowed the Magic to make almost half their shots All five Orlando starters scored at least 16 points in a 112-101 win.

The Pistons were the aggressors in Game 2, blocking seven shots in the opening 12 minutes to tie a franchise playoff record for blocks in a quarter.

In the third, they went on a 30-3 run and outscored the Magic 38-16.

Detroit coasted in the fourth quarter, winning a playoff game for the first time at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons ended an NBA-record, 11-game home losing streak in the playoffs that dates to 2008, when the franchise played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“Obviously, we've heard it,” Tobias Harris said after scoring 16 points, blocking two shots and making two steals.

The Magic, a little reluctantly, gave the Pistons some credit for their defense.

“They did a heck of a job of reaching, grabbing and holding,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “They protected that paint and our ability to get downhill.”

Jalen Suggs scored 19 and Banchero had 18 for the Magic. They combined to make just 14 of 35 shots.

“They met us at the rim a few times, and they brought the intensity on defense,” Banchero said. “But we got good looks, and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball.”

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

Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) and forward Isaiah Stewart (28) defend against a shot Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) lays up a shot against Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) has his shot blocked by Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) celebrates after forcing a turnover by the Orlando Magic during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) is fouled by Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) while driving to the basket during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)