Twins Bats Wake Up as Minnesota Avoid Being Swept by Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Wallner hit a two-run homer and came within inches of another round-tripper as the Minnesota Twins finally won a game in New York by beating the Mets 8-3 on Wednesday.

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Byron Buxton also connected and Pablo López (10-7) pitched six innings of three-hit ball as the Twins prevented a three-game sweep.

“We knew the importance of just playing a good game today,” López said. “The first two games didn’t go as planned, but you still come to the clubhouse with the expectation that everyone’s going to do their job and try to put the W on the board.”

The Twins were outscored 17-2 in the first two games against the Mets and 39-13 while losing their first five games in New York this season.

“We’ve been joking about it,” said Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach, who robbed Francisco Lindor of a leadoff homer. “The statistic out there with us and New York — whatever.”

Wallner’s homer capped a five-run outburst in the third, when Luis Severino (7-4) gave up five straight hits to begin the inning. The outfielder nearly went deep again in the fifth, but center fielder Tyrone Taylor reached over the fence and got a piece of the ball as Wallner settled for a double.

“We were just building off of each other there and just stacking up hits,” Wallner said. “Anytime you can put up five (runs) in an inning, you think you have a pretty good chance to win.”

The big day concluded an eventful series for Wallner, who made his big league pitching debut by tossing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in Monday’s 15-2 loss. Buxton hit a solo homer in the second. Trevor Larnach, Max Kepler, Royce Lewis, Carlos Santana and Ryan Jeffers each had an RBI for the Twins.

Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer off López in the bottom of the second.

Severino allowed six runs and six hits in a season-low three innings. He had lasted at least five innings in each of his first 20 starts.

The Twins got hits off a pair of sliders as well as a cutter, a sweeper and a changeup during the third inning.

“I think the only thing that was OK today was the fastball,” Severino said. “And you can’t navigate through a lineup with only a fastball. Changeup was not there. Slider (and) sweeper (were) not on today.”

After an off day, RHP Joe Ryan (6-7, 3.69 ERA) is slated to start Friday’s three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox, who will counter with RHP Davis Martin (0-0, 3.38).

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