Francisco Lindor has final word with 3 home runs vs. Yankees in heated Subway Series game

NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor merely stood at shortstop as Giancarlo Stanton had words for him after blasting a game-tying home run in the seventh inning Sunday night.

Lindor then talked back and gestured toward Stanton before the benches cleared in this rivalry's most heated moment of the season. But in that moment, Lindor couldn't do much. 

When he came up to bat in the eighth inning, he made sure he would have the last word. 

Lindor blasted his third home run of the game, a go-ahead solo shot to right-center field that elicited the biggest roar of the season from a Citi Field crowd mixed with Yankees fans. Lindor's three-homer game is the first of his career and the 15th in Mets history. 

After months of hearing groans, boos and nasty comments from the home crowd, Lindor, the man who signed a $341 million extension on the eve of this season, created his signature moment as a Met to this point. 

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In a heated Subway Series finale that included a when both benches cleared, Lindor led the Mets to a 7-6 victory over the Bronx Bombers. With the win, the Mets took the season series against the Yankees for the first time since 2013.

Ironically, Stanton made the final out and it was a weak popup to — you guessed it — Lindor. 

Francisco Lindor has signature Mets moment

It took months and many struggles. He endured strikeouts and groundouts, weak flyouts and popups. Fans were not happy with Lindor, and critics lit into him. 

On Sept. 12, with weeks to go in the season, he put together what is certainly his best performance as a Met — and perhaps the best game of his career. 

The first home run: In the second inning, Lindor launched a 398-foot, three-run homer off Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt to give the Mets a two-run lead. 

The second home run: With the Mets up a run in the sixth inning, Lindor hit a laser out to center field off reliever Wandy Peralta. As he rounded the bases, he whistled toward the Yankees (more on that later), which began the emotional final third to this game. 

The third home run: The benches had cleared, the teams had exchanged words and gestures. After all of that, Lindor made one final statement when he electrified the crowd by blasting a solo shot off Green to give the Mets a one-run lead. 

Benches clear after Giancarlo Stanton has words for Mets during HR trot 

In the seventh inning, the Mets and Yankees provided viewers with a real treat as the benches cleared and the clubs met in the infield following a heated exchange between Giancarlo Stanton and Francisco Lindor. The situation lasted a couple minutes, but never boiled over. Still, it represented the emotion and fire in the rivalry. 

During his home run trot after blasting a game-tying, 443-foot shot, Stanton stopped, turned and had words for Lindor. The Mets' $341 million shortstop gave them right back, and then Javier Báez, his good buddy, joined in and gestured toward Stanton before the benches and bullpens joined the party. 

A half inning before, Lindor whistled toward the Yankees on his home run trot after launching his second home run of the night. 

This all goes back to Saturday night: ESPN's Marly Rivera tweeted that Mets infielder Jonathan Villar told her he heard whistling coming from the Yankees' dugout when the Bronx Bombers put up five runs in the second inning against Taijuan Walker. Villar, who was standing at third, called a mound visit because he felt like Walker might've been tipping his pitches. 

One night and a couple home runs later, the Mets and Yankees provided everyone with some great theater. 

In the end, Lindor — who has endured booing and criticism and everything in between — assured the night's final remarks would come from him. 

And this time, he didn't say a word. 

Justin Toscano is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. Follow him on Twitter @justinctoscano.