Francisco Lindor's bat awakens, helping Mets top Reds

Francisco Lindor snapped out of an early-season slump Sunday afternoon, when he had two hits and scored two runs to lead the visiting New York Mets to a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the rubber game of a three-game series.

The Mets won their first series of the season while the Reds dropped a series for the first time.

Lindor, who entered Sunday with just one single in his first 31 at-bats, doubled with one out in the first against Andrew Abbott (0-1) and raced home two batters later, when Santiago Espinal threw away a potential inning-ending grounder by Francisco Alvarez.

The Mets built their second run without hitting the ball out of the infield in the second. Starling Marte drew a leadoff walk and Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil followed with bunt singles. Marte trotted home one out later, when Brandon Nimmo was plunked.

Lindor homered with two outs in the fourth for his first round-tripper since last Sept. 30.

Marte and Taylor had two hits apiece.

Sean Manaea (1-0) earned his first win with the Mets after allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings. He struck out Christian Encarnacion-Strand to leave a pair of runners in scoring position in the third and limited the damage in the fourth, when the Reds loaded the bases with none out.

Manaea got Espinal to hit a sacrifice fly and walked Luke Maile before getting Bubba Thompson to ground into a double play.

Jorge Lopez, Brooks Raley and Adam Ottavino tossed a hitless inning apiece before Edwin Diaz earned his second save by striking out two in a perfect ninth.

Abbott allowed all three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings. Brent Suter tossed three innings of two-hit ball in relief.

Elly De La Cruz stole two bases for the Reds while Thompson and Jonathan India had a steal apiece.