Swim training: Lindor makes acrobatic slide

BOSTON — Francisco Lindor made his opinion on the matter heard. After pulling off a headfirst, rolling slide at the plate, the Indians’ dynamic shortstop sprung to his feet, thrust his arms out and shouted as he waited for home-plate umpire Chad Fairchild to make the call.

“I screamed, ‘Safe!'” Lindor said after Friday’s 4-2 win over the Red Sox.

Fairchild agreed, setting off a celebratory leap from Lindor, who pumped his fist in the air as the Fenway Park crowd groaned in the third inning. The shortstop has turned this trick a few times before, but this was Boston’s first look at the creativity of the Tribe’s budding star.

• Cast your Esurance All-Star ballot for Lindor and other #ASGWorthy players

In this win — the fifth in a row for the Indians — Lindor showed off his all-around skill set. He made a barehanded grab-and-throw on a Xander Bogaerts grounder for an out in the first inning. In the same frame, Lindor sprinted into shallow center field to make an over-the-shoulder catch to rob Travis Shaw of a possible hit. Lindor drew two walks. He collected two hits. He stole a base.

And then, there was that slide, the one tailor-made for GIFs and Vines.

• Vine: Lindor’s stellar slide

“Players like that,” Indians manager Terry Francona said, “the game’s not going as fast as it is for the rest of us. He’s obviously got athleticism, but his instincts are really good, too.”

The situation presented itself with one out, Lindor on third base and Jose Ramirez at the plate. …

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