The Mets (57-50) clinched the series against Minnesota (58-48) with a 2-0 win on Tuesday evening at Citi Field. This marks the third shutout for New York in their last 16 games, a stark contrast to their first 91 games without one. The win was fueled by a dominant performance from Sean Manaea, who retired the last 10 batters he faced in pitching seven scoreless innings, marking his third outing of that length this season.
The triumph brings the club back to seven wins above .500, matching their season’s peak.
In his best outing of the year, Manaea threw 96 pitches (70 for strikes), allowing just two hits and one walk while fanning a season-high 11. The commanding performance lowered his ERA to 3.50 for the season.
The Mets took the lead in the fourth inning. After a one-out walk, a balk, and a wild pitch from Twins’ starter David Festa, Brandon Nimmo advanced to third. J.D. Martinez then drove him in with a single for his 47th RBI of the season.
Mark Vientos extended the lead in the fifth with his 15th home run of the year, a solo shot that made it 2-0 Mets. They maintained the lead once they got it.
Ryne Stanek, in his second appearance as a Met after being acquired from the Mariners before the trade deadline, took over in the eighth inning. After a fielding error by Pete Alonso allowed the first batter to reach base and a one-out walk, Stanek was replaced by Edwin Diaz with two outs and runners on first and second. Diaz struck out Byron Buxton to end the threat.
In the eighth, Brandon Nimmo singled and stole second base. Though he was left on base, it was noteworthy as Nimmo is now 10-for-10 in stolen bases this season, setting a career-high in swipes.
Diaz returned in the ninth to secure his 13th save of the year. It was his first four-out save of the season and his fifth in his last six outings.
Sean Manaea earns Tuesday’s honor after a dominant shutout performance with a season-high 11 strikeouts. It was only the second time in his career he’s had a double-digit strikeout scoreless appearance, per Michael Mayer. The other one came on April 22, 2018, when he tossed a no-hitter for the Oakland Athletics.
Luis Severino (7-3, 3.58 ERA) will start on the mound tomorrow as the Mets look to sweep the series with Minnesota. And after trade deadline day, the team should have some reinforcements in the bullpen for tomorrow’s series finale.
The Twins’ starter will be Pablo López (9-7, 4.73 ERA). SNY will air the game at 1:10 p.m.
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