Francisco Lindor, center, celebrates with Pete Alonso after hitting one of his two home runs Friday in the Mets’ 10-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field in New York. John Minchillo/Associated Press
NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor homered from both sides of the plate to back another stingy start from newcomer Chris Bassitt, and the New York Mets routed the sloppy Arizona Diamondbacks 10-3 in their home opener Friday.
Starling Marte launched a three-run shot in his first home game with the Mets, and Robinson Canó connected for the first time since September 2020 after serving his second suspension for performance-enhancing drugs last season. The Mets homered four times in their home opener for the first time.
Pete Alonso lofted a pair of early sacrifice flies for New York (6-2), which has the most wins in the majors. Travis Jankowski, subbing in center field after two Mets outfielders went on the COVID-19 injured list, had three hits.
Acquired from Oakland in a trade last month, Bassitt (2-0) allowed one run and two hits in six innings. He received a warm ovation from the sellout crowd of 43,820 as he walked off the mound at the end of his Citi Field debut.
The All-Star right-hander struck out six and walked two. He fanned eight over six innings of three-hit ball last Saturday in his initial outing for the Mets, a 5-0 win at Washington.
New York has won 11 in a row against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field, outscoring Arizona 68-21.
Before the game, the Mets placed Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha on the injured list after a coach tested positive for COVID-19.
Mets Manager Buck Showalter, without identifying the coach, confirmed that a member of his staff tested positive for the coronavirus and was absent Friday.
The team did not say whether Nimmo and Canha tested positive. Showalter would not say whether either player is vaccinated against COVID-19, but did acknowledge the rules for returning to the roster under baseball’s new labor agreement are different for players who are vaccinated versus those who aren’t.
To replace them on the active roster, the Mets recalled outfielder Nick Plummer from Triple-A Syracuse and selected infielder Matt Reynolds from Syracuse.
NATIONALS 7, PIRATES 2: Nelson Cruz and Josh Bell drove in three runs each and Washington won at Pittsburgh.
Each of the top four hitters in the Nationals’ lineup – César Hernández, Juan Soto, Cruz and Bell – had two hits while combining to go 8 for 17.
Erik Fedde (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked two. Three pitchers combined for four scoreless innings of scoreless, one-hit relief.
Mitch Keller (0-2) struggled for a second straight start, giving up four runs, seven hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. His ERA is 9.39 after two starts.
The Nationals had four straight singles to begin the game, including RBI hits by Cruz and Bell. Cruz singled in another run in the third to make it 3-0.
Hoy Park accounted for the Pirates’ scoring with a two-run double in the second.
MARLINS 7, PHILLIES 1: Jesús Sánchez tripled for the second straight game, doubled and drove in two runs, and Miami won at home.
Pablo López (1-0) scattered four hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out two and walked two for his first victory since July 11.
Jesús Aguilar drove in three runs with two sacrifice flies and a single. Miami’s RBI leader with 93 last season, Aguilar had not driven in a run through the club’s first six games.
Nick Castellanos homered in the eighth for the Phillies, who have lost four straight.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 4, ATHLETICS 1: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his major league-leading fifth home run, Zack Collins had two hits and an RBI and Toronto beat visiting Oakland.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reached base three times, scored a run, and drove in a run to help Toronto win its sixth straight against Oakland.
WHITE SOX 3, RAYS 2: Rookie slugger Jake Burger had a solo homer and an RBI single, Dylan Cease dominated into the sixth inning and Chicago won at home.
Cease (2-0) struck out eight and allowed just one run over 5 2/3 innings. Gavin Sheets and Leury Garcia each doubled and scored, and Chicago improved to 5-2 for its best start since 2016.
Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz doubled in runs off Chicago reliever Aaron Bummer in Tampa Bay’s third straight loss. The Rays have dropped four of five after starting the season 3-0.
INTERLEAGUE
GIANTS 4, GUARDIANS 1: Cleveland lost in its first home game using its new name as Carlos Rodón allowed one run in seven innings and Joey Bart hit a two-run homer in the eighth for San Francisco.
Rodón (1-0) struck out nine, giving up two hits and a pair of walks as the Giants won their third straight. Brandon Crawford and Joc Pederson added solo homers, and Camilo Doval pitched the ninth for his second save.
NOTES
ATHLETICS: Oakland placed outfielder Stephen Piscotty on the COVID-19 injured list and put catcher Austin Allen and left-handers A.J. Puk and Kirby Snead on the restricted list before Friday’s game in Toronto.
To enter Canada, a person must have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose – or one dose of Johnson & Johnson – at least 14 days prior to entry.
Players are not paid and do not accrue major league service time while on the restricted list.
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