Twins break up no-hit bid, then rally to hand Mets 12th consecutive loss

Bobby Nightengale, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Apr 21, 2026

Published in Baseball

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In a matchup between two reeling teams on aggravating losing streaks, the Minnesota Twins showed how quickly momentum can turn in a come-from-behind 5-3 win over the New York Mets Tuesday night at Citi Field.

The Twins, who didn’t have a baserunner through their first five innings against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean, erased a three-run deficit over the final four innings and ended their four-game losing streak. The Mets, who have the highest payroll in the major leagues, have lost 12 consecutive games.

Byron Buxton jumpstarted the comeback with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, but the Twins didn’t take their first lead until the ninth.

Mets reliever Devin Williams, who blew a save in his previous outing, walked the first two batters he faced in the ninth. Kody Clemens dropped a sacrifice bunt, but pinch runner James Outman beat an aggressive throw to third base.

Luke Keaschall, batting with the bases loaded and no outs, bounced a go-ahead, RBI single through the left side of a drawn-in infield. Matt Wallner followed with a bases-loaded walk in an eight-pitch plate appearance, and Williams walked off the mound to boos from the announced crowd of 32,798.

Mets reliever Austin Warren, who replaced Williams, drew “M-V-P” chants when he struck out the next three batters.

Twins reliever Cole Sands earned a six-out save as the Twins bullpen pitched four hitless innings behind starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to win the series opener.

McLean, who struck out seven of his first nine batters, carried a perfect game into the sixth inning. Wallner spoiled it when he laced a leadoff single into left field. Three batters later, Buxton pulled a 90-mph cutter over the left-field wall for a two-out, two-run homer.

It was Buxton’s team-leading fourth homer of the season. All four have been against right-handed pitchers despite seeing almost as many lefties to begin the year.

The Twins tied the score in the seventh inning after Clemens hit a hustle double to right field off McLean, connecting on an elevated sinker that didn’t sink. Keaschall, the next batter, drove an RBI single to center. Clemens slid across the plate with a headfirst slide, then jumped up and pointed toward Keaschall.

McLean, who looked unhittable for much of the evening, gave up a season-high five hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings, raising his season ERA to 2.67. McLean struck out 10 batters, which was the second-highest total in his career.

Mark Vientos, Woods Richardson’s roommate in the low levels of the minor leagues, opened the bottom of the third inning with a single against his good friend. Woods Richardson issued a one-out walk to Marcus Semien, then started Francisco Lindor with a 3-0 count.

Woods Richardson threw two fastballs for strikes, including one that drew a swing and a miss. Woods Richardson appeared to shake off catcher Ryan Jeffers to triple up on his fastball, and Lindor jacked it to the second deck in right field for a three-run homer.

Lindor, who had one homer and one RBI through his first 100 plate appearances, dropped his bat and shouted toward his teammates in the dugout as he hopped up the first base line. The Mets failed to score three runs in nine of their last 11 games, so there was a lot of pent-up frustration released in one swing.

Woods Richardson, who completed five innings, allowed four hits, three runs and three walks while striking out two.

Turning point

Anthony Banda pitched in the bottom of the sixth inning, his first appearance in six days. The Twins just cut their deficit to one run, picking up some momentum, and here came Banda, who gave up a combined nine hits and nine runs over his previous three appearances.

Banda maintained the momentum with his best outing of the season. He struck out two of the three batters he faced, drawing whiffs on six of the 13 swings against him. His velocity was up, hitting 95 mph with his fastball.

The Twins tied the score in the next inning.

Stat of the day

The Twins have never won a series at Citi Field, coming up short in their previous four chances. They entered Tuesday with a 3-8 all-time record at the ballpark, losing seven of their last nine games in Queens.

They did win a series at Shea Stadium in 2007, taking two of three games against the Mets in games that were started by Scott Baker and Johan Santana (a shutout).

Up next

Twins pitching prospect Connor Prielipp is scheduled to make his major league debut Wednesday night. Prielipp, a 25-year-old left-hander from Tomah, Wis., had a 2.30 ERA in four games at Class AAA St. Paul with 22 strikeouts and eight walks in 15 2/3 innings.

Baseball America ranks Prielipp as the No. 4 prospect in the Twins farm system and No. 81 overall. The Mets will start right-hander Clay Holmes (2-2 record, 1.96 ERA) for the game at Citi Field.

The Twins must make a roster move to activate Prielipp onto their 26-man roster.

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