The Mets (11-6) fell to even the series with the Twins (6-12) on Tuesday evening with a 6-3 loss at Target Field. Despite a pair of solo home runs from Pete Alonso and Juan Soto, the club fell short, notching just seven hits and stranding seven on base in the defeat.
Tylor Megill got the start for New York, tossing five innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out three. Megill (2-2, 1.40 ERA) took the loss.
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The Mets struck first with a solo home run from Alonso in the opening frame, for his fifth of the season.
Minnesota responded in the third. Former Met Harrison Bader singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a Byron Buxton base hit. The game-tying run scored on a fielding error by Francisco Lindor, who bobbled a grounder at shortstop. Carlos Correa followed with an RBI single to give the Twins a 2-1 lead, both runs charged to Lindor’s error.
Soto evened the score in the fourth with a leadoff solo shot. It was his third homer of the year and second consecutive game with a home run.
The Twins pulled back in front in the bottom half of the inning. A hit-by-pitch, a double, and an RBI single from Bader made it 3-2. The club added another run in the fifth after Buxton singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a fielder’s choice to extend the lead to 4-2.
Max Kranick took over for New York on the bump in the sixth but allowed a string of hits that led to another Minnesota run—the first he’s surrendered this season after 10 ⅔ scoreless innings—making it 5-2.
The Mets cut into the deficit in the seventh. Mark Vientos singled, Luis Torrens doubled, and pinch-hitter Jesse Winker drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3.
Kranick returned for the seventh but gave up a solo homer before being lifted. Danny Young came in and ended the inning with a strikeout, keeping it at 6-3.
New York got two on base in the ninth, when Mark Vientos reached on a missed catch error, and Luisangel Acuna singled with two outs, but Francisco Lindor, who has struggled in recent games with runners in scoring position, struck out to end the game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Juan Soto wins Tuesday’s honor with his second consecutive game with a home run. He now has three on the season and is hitting .250/.392/.467/.859 on the year.
ON DECK
The Mets starter for tomorrow’s series finale is still to be determined, as Griffin Canning will miss his start due to illness. David Festa (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for Minnesota. In his only other start this season against Detroit, he threw four and ⅔ innings with one run allowed on three hits. He walked one and struck out four.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. on SNY as New York looks to take the series.
