In a win-or-go-home matchup at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Francisco Lindor certainly made his mark.
On Wednesday, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic were locked in a must-win game to determine which team would head to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals and which team would go home. Both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico came into Wednesday’s game with a 2-1 record, with the winner set to advance to the next stage of the tournament alongside Venezuela.
Puerto Rico jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after the third inning of this Pool D matchup, with Lindor playing a major role in the team’s scoring breakout thanks to a RBI single. Then, in the top of the fifth, Lindor lined a ball to center field for what was set to be a single, but the Dominican Republic fielder whiffed on the play! Lindor then flew around the bases for an incredible inside-the-park home run to put Puerto Rico emphatically up 5-1.
LINDOR MAKES IT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BASES!! WOW!!!
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/IYNLDaOllE
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 16, 2023
Francisco Lindor CAN FLY 🏃♂️💨 pic.twitter.com/OaKTT7FQOA
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 16, 2023
What a run from Lindor. Given that the Dominican Republic didn’t even throw home on that play, Lindor had room and then some to spare on the slide. Talk about a fantastic individual effort in a do-or-die game.
