April 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nThrough five innings, the Twins looked as awful at the plate as the Mets have throughout their current losing streak, the team\u2019s longest since 2002. To be fair, the Twins were facing McLean, who is quickly developing into one of the game\u2019s next big arms.<\/p>\n
But the Twins looked listless, striking out eight times and failing to register even a single hard-hit ball (95 mph or better) through five innings.<\/p>\n
Wallner changed everything when he lined a 95 mph fastball to left for a leadoff single in the sixth inning. Two outs later, Buxton worked a 3-1 count before jumping on a cutter and driving it out to left for a two-run homer, his fourth in nine days.<\/p>\n
\u201c(McLean) was nasty,\u201d Buxton said. \u201cIt\u2019s different. That\u2019s a different type of stuff. Being able to play with him on (Team) USA was special. I got a chance to see what he does behind him, and I ain\u2019t understand how people hit him. \u2026 Once (Wallner\u2019s hit) happened, it kind of lightened us up a little bit. We stopped worrying about trying to get a hit and started worrying about putting runs on the board and seeing what we could do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kody Clemens doubled off McLean with one out in the seventh inning, and Keaschall made a spirited crowd audibly groan with a tying single. Two innings later, those groans developed into a cacophony of boos as the Twins pieced together a two-run winning rally.<\/p>\n
Reliever Devin Williams walked the first two batters he faced, and Mark Vientos made a bad decision on Clemens\u2019 sac-bunt attempt, unsuccessfully trying to cut down the lead runner at third. Keaschall further dampened spirits with a seeing-eye, bases-loaded single ahead of Wallner\u2019s bases-loaded walk. The only joy Mets fans seemed to experience was when reliever Austin Warren took over and struck out Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee and Buxton to strand the bases loaded and keep New York within two runs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuxton\u2019s homer did most of it,\u201d Keaschall said. \u201cHe put us within 1; that was a huge momentum shift. \u2026 (McLean) had all his pitches. He did a great job. Lights out to start the game, and we just kept throwing punches back.\u201d<\/p>\n
After taking a series of haymakers over the weekend, the Twins\u2019 bullpen responded with its own four-inning flurry of blows Tuesday. Anthony Banda struck out two in his inning, Justin Topa whiffed one in his inning, and Cole Sands struck out three of the six batters he faced.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a starting pitcher\u2019s dream for your team to come back and sneak a win,\u201d Woods Richardson said. \u201cIt\u2019s a starting pitcher\u2019s dream for your bullpen to do what they\u2019re doing. All around, it was a great team win. We were so hyped, so happy after it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Best case for Abel<\/p>\n
When Mick Abel reported soreness after throwing a bullpen, the Twins sent him for an MRI on Sunday. They weren\u2019t overly concerned based on their physical exam but wanted peace of mind, and they received it when the procedure showed Abel is dealing only with light inflammation in his right elbow.<\/p>\n
Rather than push Abel, the Twins placed him on the injured list Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt like if we aggressively treat it, get him on some anti-inflammatories and play it safe on the front end, it\u2019ll be something that will be relatively quick and short,\u201d general manager Jeremy Zoll said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to try to chase it and then make it potentially worse later by trying to prolong this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rojas, Prielipp get the call<\/p>\n
Kendry Rojas said his mother and aunt were so excited about his promotion to the big leagues that their blood pressure rose, for \u201cvery good reasons.\u201d One of two hard-throwing left-handers who joined the Twins on Tuesday, Rojas will likely be with the club only until Kody Funderburk returns from paternity leave.<\/p>\n
But as the key piece in the trade that sent Louis Varland to the Toronto Blue Jays, Rojas is excited for whatever opportunity he\u2019s getting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like it\u2019s another world,\u201d he said through an interpreter. \u201cSuper, super good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor Prielipp also joined the Twins on Tuesday. He\u2019ll make his major-league debut as a starter Wednesday. Prielipp, who hails from Tomah, Wis., said he also shared an emotional call with his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of tears and a lot of joy,\u201d Prielipp said. \u201cIt was just an awesome moment for my family and me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lewis ready after quick rehab<\/p>\n
Though Lewis thinks he only needed a few days off, he appreciates that the Twins were looking out for his well-being. He was activated Tuesday, the first day he was eligible to come off the injured list, ready for action after homering twice in a brief stopover at Triple-A St. Paul.<\/p>\n
Lewis suspected he would have to sit out the series at Toronto with a left knee strain but thought he could return quickly. He made that assessment after running the bases well after suffering the injury in the April 9 win over the Detroit Tigers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew I was going to be fine,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cHad it not been for injury history, it would have been (faster). But I appreciate it. They\u2019re being smart. They care about me and the longevity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten for Taylor<\/p>\n
The Twins held their second celebration of 2026, honoring Taylor Rogers\u2019 10 years of service time in a pregame ceremony. Teammates purchased Rogers a golf bag, a round of golf at Pebble Beach and champagne. He also got a Rolex watch from Tom Pohlad, the same gift Buxton received upon reaching 10 years earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Rogers\u2019 family, including his nephews and the wife of his twin brother, Tyler, flew in for the event. Tyler participated in the celebration via video call.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just trying to chip away at the next milestone,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cJust trying to stay. You want to get a debut and then try to stay, stay a couple years, and I don\u2019t have to get a job right away. And then just trying to chip away at the milestones throughout the 10. \u2026 I knew I was close. I wanted to do it somewhere where I wanted to be. I\u2019ve got to be the luckiest guy around, starting in a place that I liked, (playing) with my brother for two years (in San Francisco), and then (coming) back to that place. \u2026 Storybook.\u201d<\/p>\n