NEW YORK — Every October legend requires a defining moment, and for Francisco Lindor, that moment arrived on Wednesday night.

It’s incredible to grasp the power of a single swing — how it can shape narratives, create memories, and solidify legacies. But all of that unfolded at Citi Field as we watched Lindor launch a ball into the Queens night. And when it finally came down, everything had changed.

Thanks to Lindor’s grand slam in the sixth inning, rattling the upper decks, the Mets sealed a 4-1 victory, eliminating the need for a Game 5 in Philadelphia. His monumental swing provided all the runs the team needed to clinch the series.

For long-suffering Mets fans, the wait was finally over — no more years of disappointment, no more longing for a moment like this. Lindor’s swing had unleashed a wave of euphoria, creating a memory to last a lifetime.

From now on, no one would ever question whether Lindor was the right man for New York — whether he could handle the pressure, the dreams, or the expectations. His home run wouldn’t just hit the stands; it would linger in the hearts of Mets fans forever. And perhaps, in a way, it felt like he was destined to do it.

“I think everyone in the ballpark felt it coming,” said Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, amidst the celebratory chaos in the clubhouse. “But for him to actually do it? It’s insane. Absolutely insane.”

Hitting a grand slam in October is special, but this one wasn’t just another home run. It was a moment that would be talked about for generations. Only two others in postseason history had hit a lead-flipping grand slam that clinched a series: Shane Victorino for the Red Sox in 2013, and Devon White for the Marlins in 1997. Lindor joined them, but with a twist — his slam accounted for every run the Mets scored that night.

In Mets history, only one other late-inning grand slam had flipped the lead in a postseason game: Edgardo Alfonzo’s ninth-inning slam in 1999. But Lindor’s blast? It sealed the deal, ending the series in unforgettable fashion.

Yet, the true power of Lindor’s homer wasn’t just in its historic context — it was in the emotional release it brought. As the ball sailed into the Phillies’ bullpen, it carried the weight of decades of Mets’ October heartbreak and released it in a thunderous roar.

Citi Field shook for minutes, maybe longer. It wasn’t just a moment you watched; it was one you felt. Mets reliever Ryne Stanek, watching from the bullpen, couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I said, ‘Oh my God, it’s gone,’” Stanek recalled. “It was amazing.”

Pure emotion washed over everyone in the bullpen as Lindor’s ball cleared the fence. “It was just joy, pure joy,” Stanek said. “Everyone was like little kids, running around, losing it. It was incredible.”

And they weren’t the only ones. Pete Alonso, ever the joker, compared the moment to a scene from “Talladega Nights,” hands in the air in disbelief.

“It was the swing of a lifetime,” Alonso said.

But it wasn’t just any player who hit that home run. Lindor had been lifting the team all season long, with his relentless passion for the game and his unwavering leadership.

“He’s our MVP,” said outfielder Jesse Winker. “He’s been carrying us. He’s the guy who always comes through in the biggest moments. I’m so proud of him.”

Lindor may not win the National League MVP — Shohei Ohtani seems destined for that honor — but on nights like this, who cares? What Lindor accomplished was something special.

In the 63 years of Mets history and nearly 10,000 regular-season games, only one other player had hit a lead-flipping, late-inning grand slam. But that was in April. This was October — on a night that mattered.

It’s moments like these that people will talk about for years. In the last decade, only four other lead-flipping home runs in the postseason have clinched a series: Howie Kendrick in 2019, Bryce Harper and Yordan Alvarez in 2022, and Pete Alonso in 2024. Now, Lindor’s name joins that elite list.

For a team caught up in a magical October run, it feels like each moment outshines the last. But this — this towering homer into the night sky over New York — is a moment fans will talk about for generations.

“It was a special moment,” Stanek said, “for a special player. It’s like the perfect script. He’s the superstar who steps up in the biggest moments. And we couldn’t be prouder of him.”

And as the celebration rolled on, one thing was certain: Francisco Lindor had etched his name into Mets lore forever.