Twins center fielder Byron Buxton hit a two-run home run off Mets starter Nolan McLean as Minnesota defeated New York 5-3 at Citi Field on Tuesday. With the win, the Twins snapped a four-game losing streak while handing the Mets their 12th straight loss.
Former MLB All-Star and Mets color analyst Ron Darling explained how McLean gave Buxton, the Mets righty's former Team USA teammate, an advantage in the at-bat where the star center fielder went deep. Darling said that after McLean apologized for nearly hitting Buxton with a sinker, Buxton knew the next pitch would be outside. McLean's following pitch was a cutter on the outer part of the plate, which Buxton drove 374 feet over the left field wall.
Buck gets us on the board! pic.twitter.com/R584and5SS
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 22, 2026
Ron Darling explains how Nolan McLean gave Byron Buxton an advantage before homering off him because he apologized for throwing too far inside the pitch before.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 22, 2026
"You know what happens to a hitter when he hears that? 100% the next pitch will be away." pic.twitter.com/jcxufHqdRC
Darling has a strong understanding of baseball, as he played 13 MLB seasons as a starting pitcher. McLean is one of the best starting pitchers in the game, but he clearly messed up by apologizing to Buxton. The mistake proved that McLean has strong character but is inexperienced.
McLean's mistake pitch to Buxton led to Mets' 12th straight loss as Twins snapped four-game losing streak
McLean carried a perfect game with eight strikeouts through five innings on Tuesday before outfielder Matt Wallner led off the sixth inning with a single. McLean got the next two batters out before surrendering the two-run homer to Buxton, shrinking the Mets' lead to just one run. Shortstop Francisco Lindor had given New York a 3-0 lead by hitting a three-run home run in the third inning.
If McLean hadn't made his mistake in the at-bat against Buxton, the Mets could've snapped their losing streak. Instead, it led to New York's 12th straight loss. McLean surrendered the game-tying run on an RBI single from second baseman Luke Keaschall in the seventh inning. Then, righty Devin Williams, who signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Mets in the offseason, imploded in the ninth inning, allowing two runs without recording an out. Mets righty Austin Warren relieved Williams with the bases loaded and proceeded to strike out three straight batters. Righty Cole Sands, who had pitched a perfect eighth inning, pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the win.
The Twins aim to win the series vs. the Mets in Game 2, which is scheduled to begin at 6:10 p.m. CST on Wednesday. The Twins' top pitching prospect, lefty Connor Prielipp, is slated to make the start on the mound for Minnesota. Righty Clay Holmes is New York's scheduled starter.
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