Twins Top Mets 6-3 Behind Big Nights from Jeffers, Bader, and Buxton
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Ryan Jeffers and Harrison Bader both tallied three hits, and rookie Brooks Lee launched a home run Tuesday night as the Minnesota Twins secured a 6-3 win over the New York Mets.
Byron Buxton added two singles and scored twice, using his trademark speed to help manufacture a key run in the fifth inning.
Starter Bailey Ober (1-1) delivered a strong performance, allowing three earned runs on five hits across 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked none, earning his first victory since August 9 — snapping a winless stretch that spanned 13 starts.
Minnesota’s bullpen closed the door, with Jhoan Durán striking out Francisco Lindor — the tying run at the plate — to notch his first save of the season.
Lindor, however, was also part of the Mets’ troubles. His error in the third inning, his fourth in 17 games, extended the inning and allowed two unearned runs after he misplayed Ty France’s routine grounder to short.
The Mets did show some power, with Pete Alonso and Juan Soto each hitting solo home runs. For Soto, it marked his second homer in as many nights — a welcome sign after going deep just once since Opening Weekend.
Tylor Megill (2-2) went five innings for New York, giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits, with three strikeouts and no walks.
The Twins’ offense capitalized on mistakes early. A fielding error and a Carlos Correa RBI single gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Bader’s infield single in the fourth added another run, and Buxton created chaos in the fifth — singling, stealing second, and scoring on a daring slide around the tag at home after a sharp grounder by France.
Lee added the exclamation point with a seventh-inning homer, pushing the Twins’ lead to 6-3.
New York tried to mount a comeback in the seventh, with Mark Vientos and Luis Torrens setting the table, but reliever Cole Sands worked around the trouble, retiring Lindor to end the inning.
Minnesota finished with a season-high 13 hits in the win.
Up Next:
The Twins will hand the ball to rookie right-hander David Festa (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for Wednesday’s series finale. The Mets, meanwhile, scratched Griffin Canning due to illness and have yet to announce a replacement starter.
