The Twins ended their losing streak on Tuesday after they rallied for a 5-3 win over the New York Mets, sending the Metropolitans, a team with a $370 million payroll, to their 12th straight loss and more misery.
Early on it appeared the Mets were on the verge of history, not because of the losing streak, but because pitcher Nolan McLean tossed a perfect game through five innings with a 3-0 lead.
But in the 6th inning, the Twins went to work. Matt Wallner broke up the perfect game and no hitter with a hit, and then Byron Buxton drilled a two-run shot to left field.
Luke Keaschall tied the game with an RBI single, untied the game with another run-scoring hit and then the fifth run was the result of a bases loaded walk issued by Mets closer Devin Williams.
Williams couldn’t get an out in the ninth inning, and in the process allowed two runs on a hit with three walks. Only nine of his 21 pitches landed for strikes.
A Twins starter has not been named for Wednesday’s game.
Extra innings…
–Although snapping the losing streak is great, the news about the team’s pitching rotation is not so great after the Twins announced Monday that young hurler Mick Abel, who struck out 10 in his last appearance, has landed on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation.
Abel was set to start Tuesday, so that job fell to Simeon Woods Richardson who made a very workman-like start. It wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done, allowing just three runs on four hits with three walks and two whiffs across five innings.
–Woods did what he could and then the bullpen followed him with four scoreless innings and six strikeouts. Cole Sands picked up the win with two shutout innings and half of those reliever whiffs.
–As noted by Twins radio voice Kris Atteberry during the broadcast, New York media is losing its mind over the Mets’ losing streak, including the New York Post, which is blaming the skid on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he hugged Mr. Met, the team’s mascot.
There’s also the story about a voodoo priest trying to reverse the “Curse of the Mambino.”
“A Voodoo King descended on Citi Field Tuesday, using a goat’s head and black magic to try to undo the dreaded Curse of the Mambino that saw the Mets lose 11 straight games — but his efforts fell short,” the story reads.