Juan Soto once again shined with his bat and was a key player in the New York Mets' 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins, a team that has not been able to get back on its feet this season. On a cold night and with a small crowd at the stadium, the New York team did just enough to keep on winning and show that it is going through a good moment.
Soto's home run, his first since the opening game, came in the seventh inning to extend the lead when the game was still close. Around him, the rest of the team also performed well, with outstanding performances by Pete Alonso, Luisangel Acuña and starter Clay Holmes, who intelligently handled a complicated situation with the bases loaded.
Soto's Hit That Made the Difference
Juan Soto's return to homering was only a matter of time, and the Dominican took advantage of a low line drive in the zone to send it into the stands between right and center field. It was his second home run of the year and it came at just the right moment, with the team up by two runs and a runner on base. That connection ended up settling a duel that had been even up to that point.
Soto's hit was against compatriot Jorge Alcalá, who left the ball in a dangerous zone for a hitter of his caliber. With the hit, Soto also rediscovered his offensive production, driving in two runs and consolidating the result in favor of the Mets.
These types of appearances by the Dominican are vital for a team that needs his power and leadership. Although he has not had the explosive start that many expected, the talent is there, and games like this one confirm that he can be decisive at any time.
Luisangel Acuña And Pete Alonso Add To The Collective Effort
Beyond Soto's home run, the Mets' victory was also due to the good collective work of Luisangel Acuña and Pete Alonso. The Venezuelan was a constant threat from the bottom of the order: he got on base three times, hit two hits, stole a base and scored twice.
Acuña has begun to earn a place on the team with his contributions from different facets. His ability to generate runs from the bottom of the order gives depth to a lineup that already has some big names. In this match, his presence was key to keeping pressure on the opposing defense.
Pete Alonso also delivered, with a run-producing single in the first inning to open the scoring. He then came up again in the sixth with a double off Mark Vientos that brought him to the plate, adding another run. Alonso's combination of power and consistency continues to be one of New York's main weapons this season.
Mets' Pitching, Steady When They Needed It Most
Clay Holmes was the starter and worked five innings in which he struck out eight batters and allowed only two hits. Despite facing a complicated situation in the fifth inning, with the bases loaded and no outs, he managed to limit the damage to one run on a sacrifice fly by Christian Vázquez.
The way Holmes resolved that moment was key for the Mets to maintain control of the game. With intelligence and without getting desperate, he knew how to get out of serious trouble and left the rest of the work in the hands of the bullpen, which responded without hesitation.
One of the relievers who stood out was Huascar Brazobán, who came in after the Mets' rally in the sixth and retired the three batters he faced with only nine pitches. This efficiency allowed the Mets to maintain the rhythm of the game and prevent any attempt at a comeback by the Twins.
Minnesota Still No Answers
For the Twins, the story continues to be the same: lack of offense, punctual errors and little reaction at key moments. With only three hits in the entire game and 13 strikeouts, the team failed to put New York's pitching in real trouble.
The only run came on a fly ball that barely served to break the scoreless streak, and other than that, Minnesota showed no signs of recovery. With a 5-12 record on the season, the situation is starting to worry, and the atmosphere at Target Field reflects it: just over ten thousand fans attended, the lowest number since the stadium opened in 2010, excluding years affected by the pandemic.
Neither the starting rotation nor the bullpen have been able to sustain leads, and the offense has not been able to take off. The challenge for the coaching staff is enormous, and the margin for error is beginning to shrink.
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What's Next
The Mets have won nine of their last eleven games, and this result reinforces the confidence of a group that is responding both offensively and from the mound. On the other hand, the Twins have accumulated another loss and have yet to find an effective formula to get out of their slump.
Now, the Mets will look to keep the good streak going in the second game of the series, with Tylor Megill as starter. The right-hander comes in with a remarkable 0.63 ERA and will face Bailey Ober, who has had a difficult start with a 7.11 ERA.
Another victory for the Mets would not only extend their good momentum, but could further sink the Twins, who need to react as soon as possible if they do not want to lose sight of the fight in their division. For now, the New York team continues to show that it has what it takes to compete in the MLB, with players like Soto, Alonso and Acuña on fire and a pitching staff that responds.
