Bo Bichette’s three-run double broke the tie as the Mets beat the Twins 10-8, surviving a ninth-inning bullpen mix-up after Francisco Lindor’s injury move.
The New York Mets got a timely hit and just enough bullpen stability to keep their momentum going, beating the Minnesota Twins 10-8 on Thursday night.
Bo Bichette’s tiebreaking three-run double delivered the swing in a game that had plenty of late tension. especially after New York placed Francisco Lindor on the injured list with a calf issue.. With the Mets already coming off a tough stretch that included a 12-game skid. the win felt like more than two points in the standings—it was a reset moment.
Battey put early authority on the board. launching a three-run homer in the first off Joe Ryan as New York claimed a 3-1 lead.. From there. the Mets built a cushion that looked comfortable at different points: 6-1 in the fourth. 7-2 in the sixth and 7-3 in the eighth.. Those gaps mattered, because Minnesota refused to disappear, pushing the game into a finish the Mets did not fully control.
The eighth inning carried the kind of momentum shift that can flip a season narrative.. After Ryan Jeffers’ grand slam off Huascar Brazobán—his first allowed in his major league career—New York reasserted itself with a sequence that quickly turned frustration into relief.. Brett Baty and Marcus Semien singled to set the table. pinch-hitter Tommy Pham walked. and Bichette doubled off the left-centerfield wall to drive home runs and restore a 10-7 advantage.
What came next was the part that will stick around in postgame conversations.. With the stadium lights dimming at Citi Field. manager Carlos Mendoza made a late bullpen call as closer Devin Williams headed toward the mound.. But at the same time, Brazobán—already involved earlier—started back from the dugout to pitch.. The result was a procedural mix-up that forced the Mets to navigate a high-leverage inning with unusual timing.
The mechanics of bullpen usage are rarely glamorous, but this one showed how quickly things can become complicated.. Brazobán had to enter as soon as he crossed the foul line. which meant Williams was no longer eligible for a save.. Brazobán got Austin Martin to ground out. then Williams took over and struck out Luke Keaschall—buying the Mets a clean path to finish.. Even with that recovery. it still underlined a simple reality: late-game execution is fragile when multiple arms are warming and roles overlap.
Minnesota pressed anyway.. Brooks Lee singled and scored on Tristan Gray’s single. then Bryon Buxton’s double put the potential tying run in scoring position.. Williams ultimately struck out Trevor Larnarch. who chased a 2-2 changeup for the final out that kept Minnesota from completing a late comeback.
The Mets’ evening was also shaped by individual performance on both sides of the roster.. Juan Soto returned for his second game after missing 15 games with a strained right calf, going 0-for-3 with two walks.. For New York. the loss of Lindor to the injured list is a reminder that even productive lineups can be destabilized quickly—particularly in stretches where depth and timing are already under scrutiny.
On the mound, Ryan’s workload set a demanding tone for the bullpen.. He allowed seven runs—four earned—in five innings.. Christian Scott’s outing was shorter than New York would like. lasting just 1 1/3 innings while walking five in his first appearance with the club since July 21. 2024.. Those details matter because in a game that stayed close late. the Mets leaned heavily on their ability to manage multiple relievers efficiently. even with the unusual ninth-inning sequence.
Looking ahead. New York’s path out of its earlier slump will depend on whether it can turn early leads into repeatable results without losing too much rhythm when injuries hit key stars.. The Twins. for their part. carry forward the confidence of a persistent push. while the Mets get a chance to respond with healthier. more stable pitching plans in their next series.
Friday brings another set of high-stakes pitching matchups: Taj Bradley faces his former club for Minnesota against the Mets. with Drew Rasmussen set to start for Tampa Bay Rays in the other reported game context.. New York’s Freddy Peralta is scheduled to open Friday’s series against Colorado. with Michael Lorenzen also on the rotation list for later in the series.