CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor belted two home runs in Friday’s 6-3 win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, and they were of the milestone variety for the three-time American League All-Star.
Lindor’s home run in the third inning was the 100th of his career. With the first home run, Lindor became the third-fastest player in Indians history and third-fastest shortstop in Major League Baseball annals to reach the 100-home run plateau.
“It’s an honor,” Lindor said. “It’s a privilege. I’m blessed. With the injuries at the beginning of the year and working as hard as I could to help my team win, it’s a privilege. I’m blessed to be out here, and I thank the Lord for everything He has given me, but at the end of the day, I just want to win the game.”
In Indians history, only Hal Trosky (23 years, 307 days) and Manny Ramirez (25 years, 70 days) were younger than Lindor (25 years, 163 days) when they hit their 100th career home run.
In Major League history, Alex Rodriguez (23 years, 16 days) and Cal Ripken Jr. (24 years, 356 days) are the only players to reach 100 home runs faster than Lindor and play at least 90 percent of their games at shortstop.
“He’s in that company,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
“The only thing he hasn’t done is accumulated years yet. He’s a great player, and Jose’s sitting right there next to him. That combination, I mean you saw the comparisons they were bringing up last year, DiMaggio and names like that. That’s pretty elite company.”
On a 3-2 pitch from Houston starter Collin McHugh with two outs in the top of the third inning, Lindor extended his strike zone to swing at a breaking ball and blasted it into the second deck in right field at Minute Maid Park.
Not bad for a guy still trying to find his rhythm after getting a late start to the season because of a calf strain and sprained ankle.
“I was feeling it in the minors, but that’s the beauty of baseball,” Lindor said. “I show up here and I was a little in-between. I’m still finding it. It’s going to take time, but it is what it is.
“Whenever I hit a home run, it’s a good sign. I’m finding it. It’s not like I’m completely lost because I’m not, but I’m grinding. I’m working at-bats. I’m working pitch after pitch, and I’ll probably be doing that once I find my timing, but I’m not where I want to be. I might be a little greedy, but it’s just part of the game, I guess.”
Out of the leadoff spot Friday, Lindor went two for five with two runs scored and three runs batted in.
On the season, Lindor is hitting .259 (seven for 27) with three home runs, five RBI and five runs scored, and he is committed to doing whatever is necessary to help the Indians win a fourth straight American League Central Division Championship and lead them on another deep postseason run.
“No doubt in my team,” Lindor said. “I never doubted my team.
“I believe in what we can do. We don’t have the most known hitters, but we’re playing together. We’re communicating. We’re helping each other out and we’re counting on each other. It doesn’t matter who’s out there. I believe in my team. I believe in what we’ve got. It’s just a matter of time.”
