Cleveland Indians: Francisco Lindor showcased his greatness once again

The Cleveland Indians won in dramatic fashion Wednesday night, thanks to an outstanding performance from Francisco Lindor.

Remember the game when Francisco Lindor made a costly mistake and made up for it with a game-winning grand slam?

In what looks like the start of an undefeated regular season, the Cleveland Indians won once again Wednesday night, improving to 3-0 on the year.

The hero of the night was Francisco Lindor, but his night featured a dynamic storyline before the most memorable moment.

The Indians entered the bottom of the fifth inning with a 3-2 lead. Danny Salazar was cruising and all seemed well. Runners were on first and second with two outs, but Salazar induced a groundball that seemed to end the inning, only for Lindor to fail to beat the runner to get the force at second. His subsequent throw to first bounced off Edwin Encarnacion‘s glove, allowing two runs to score.

A throw to first right away would have been the easiest move, and mistakes like these aren’t often made by the young shortstop. Regardless, the damage was done and the Rangers entered the sixth inning with a 5-3 lead after a big inning.

Due up second in the sixth inning? Francisco Lindor.

Lindor began his redemption tour with a solo home run to cut the lead to 5-4, but it was only the beginning.

Cut to the ninth inning when the Indians trailed 6-4. Sam Dyson, who lost the game on Monday, came in and Rangers fans were not excited. The stress in the stands was felt through televisions across Northeast Ohio, and the emotions were met with confirmation.

Dyson loaded the bases, bringing Carlos Santana to the plate, with Lindor on deck. In typical Santana fashion, he drew a walk, setting up the most poetic finish possible.

Lindor came up with the bases loaded, down one run. A sacrifice fly would have done the job, but he found a better way to make up for his earlier error.

So after making an error that resulted in three runs, Lindor proceeded to drive in five.

Yes, it is early in the season. But this first series against the Rangers is only a glimpse of the excitement to come. This club has already proven that they are never out of any game, given the pitching doesn’t completely implode, which has not happened yet.

And Lindor’s night is a perfect example of why this team is so great. He made a play that could have ruined his mindset for the entire night. He could have been frustrated and let that carry over into his at-bats, losing focus of the situation at hand. Instead, he hit two home runs and never let the stress or pressure get to him. That is what separates the good players from the great ones. It’s almost hard to believe he is only 23 years old.

Next: Importance of getting the first win

The Indians are off today, so fans can take some time to decompress and get ready for the next 159 games. In the meantime, the Rangers may be looking for a new closer.