The Mets snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Twins, powered by Clay Holmes, Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty. The victory came at a cost, though, as Francisco Lindor left with a calf injury and was expected to land on the injured list.
Juan SotoMetsbrett batyfrancisco lindortwinsclay holmesfrancisco alvarezmark vientosronny mauricio
The Mets finally stopped the bleeding with a 3-2 win over the Twins, ending a 12-game losing streak in a game that felt equal parts relief and concern. Clay Holmes gave the club seven solid innings, Francisco Alvarez delivered the go-ahead hit, and Luke Weaver escaped a late jam to finish the job. But the victory was tempered by a calf injury to Francisco Lindor, who left the game after scoring in the fourth inning and was expected to go on the 10-day injured list.
Lindor opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning, driving in Bo Bichette. He later scored before leaving the game, and Alvarez doubled him home to break a 1-1 tie. Byron Buxton answered with a home run in the sixth to pull the Twins even again, but the Mets found one more run in the eighth. Brett Baty walked, Alvarez also drew a walk, and Mark Vientos singled to bring Baty home for the decisive run.
The win was built on a strong outing from Holmes, who kept the Mets in control for most of the night. Weaver then handled the final inning after working out of a bases-loaded situation. The bullpen finish was enough to preserve the result and give the Mets a rare celebratory moment after weeks of frustration.
The game also featured a familiar Mets mix of promise and exasperation. Vientos had earlier run through a stop sign from the third-base coach and was thrown out, a mistake that drew plenty of criticism. Still, he later came through with the game-winning RBI. The sequence summed up the night: sloppy at times, but good enough to snap the streak.
The injury to Lindor immediately shifted the mood. He had been starting to heat up, and the timing was especially painful because the club had just broken through with a much-needed win. Calf injuries are tricky, and the expectation was that he would miss time. The Mets, already thin in the middle of the infield, may need to reshuffle again depending on how long he is out.
That possibility has already raised questions about how the roster should be arranged. Some want Brett Baty at third base, Bo Bichette at shortstop, and Ronny Mauricio brought back to play regularly. Others would rather keep Bichette off shortstop and prioritize defense by giving Mauricio the position. There is also debate over where Baty fits best, with some preferring him at third and others suggesting he could be moved around to cover holes while the Mets wait for healthier days.
Mauricio remains one of the more intriguing options if the club needs another bat. He has been productive in Syracuse and has shown enough power to make a case for a call-up. His speed, on the other hand, is not part of the appeal. Baty has also been a focal point, both because of his recent usage and because the club continues to search for the best way to deploy him without exposing him defensively in the outfield or at first base.
The larger question is whether the Mets can use this win as a turning point or whether it will be remembered mostly as a brief pause in a difficult stretch. The team had been stuck in a long slump, and there was a sense that the losing streak had become its own burden. One win does not erase the problems, but it can change the mood. The offense looked more functional, the lineup drew walks, and the club showed more life with runners on base.
That was especially clear in the next game, when the Mets jumped out to a 5-1 lead over the Twins in the second inning. The offense looked more aggressive and more confident, with Juan Soto helping to set the tone and Alvarez continuing to drive the ball. The lineup produced productive outs, drew walks, and took advantage of opportunities instead of wasting them. For a club that had spent much of the month searching for any sign of rhythm, it was a welcome change.
Soto's return has clearly changed the feel of the offense. With him in the lineup, the Mets looked more dangerous and more patient. His presence seemed to open things up for the hitters around him, and the club appeared more willing to work counts and force the Twins' pitching staff into mistakes. The contrast with the previous stretch was obvious.
Even so, the injury to Lindor complicates everything. The Mets may now need to survive without one of their most important players just as the offense is beginning to look more alive. That has revived familiar questions about depth, lineup construction, and whether the team can keep itself afloat if injuries continue to pile up. The club has enough talent to compete, but the margin for error is small.
The Twins, for their part, left with the frustration of another close loss. They had a chance to steal the game but could not hold up late. Their bullpen faltered, their defense was shaky, and the offense did not do enough with runners in scoring position. Buxton provided the highlight with his home run, but the overall result fit a pattern that has haunted them in tight games.
The matchup served as a reminder of how quickly a season can shift. For the Mets, the end of the losing streak brought relief, but it came with a price. For the Twins, the loss reinforced a familiar problem: close games have not been kind. In the end, the series was defined by the same thing that has shaped much of both teams' seasons so far - one club searching for stability, the other trying to turn a single win into something bigger.
