Cleveland baseball fans welcomed back old friend Francisco Lindor to kick off a three-game series with the New York Mets last night. The Guardians won 3-1.

Lindor smiled as he awaited the first pitch. While some fans were booing Lindor for signing a big-money contract with the Mets, 80 percent of the crowd cheered the shortstop who was part of the team’s recent renaissance.

Lindor went 0-for-4 for drop his batting average to .193. Cleveland received Andres Gimenez from the Mets in the Lindor trade and used the money their would have paid Lindor to re-sign Jose Ramirez.

On the radio, Guardians announcer Tom Hamilton put Lindor over as a superstart with a “million-dollar smile.”

So things worked out in the Guardians’ favor … including Monday night, as they have now won 7 of 8 games.

David Fry continued his heroics at the plate, driving in Ramirez and Josh Naylor with a single to put Cleveland up 2-0 in the first inning. Fry is becoming a mainstay in the middle of the lineup while he plays all over the diamond.

Mets catcher Tomas Nido cut the lead in half with a solo home run in the third inning, but Kyle Manzardo got the run back for Cleveland with an RBI double in the fourth.

MONSTERS OF THE MOUND

Pitching continues to be the secret sauce for the Guardians. Ben Lively struck out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings while surrendering just one run.

Nick Sandlin, Scott Barlow, and Cade Smith held the Guardians’ 3-1 lead until Emmanuel Clase could finish up for his 14th save.

A GAME TO FORGET

While Lindor didn’t help the Mets at the plate, teammate Starling Marte had a terrible game. He didn’t even make it to the end.

Marte overran the ball in right field, got doubled up on the bases, argued a strikeout call with the umpire, and got ejected from the game.

The series continues on Tuesday night at 6:10. Carlos Carrasco will start for Cleveland against the Mets’ Adrian Houser.

(Jeff Gorman is a professional baseball announcer who has worked for the Lake County Captains and Lake Erie Crushers.)