The New York Mets finally snapped a harrowing 12-game losing streak, their longest since 2002, with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on Wednesday. The win, however, was bittersweet, marked by a cruel twist of irony as star shortstop Francisco Lindor exited the game in the fourth inning with left calf tightness, just as Juan Soto made his anticipated return from a right calf strain. The decisive moment came in the eighth inning when Mark Vientos hit a 70.3-mph bloop single to right field, driving in Brett Baty from second base with two outs, securing the go-ahead run.

Luke Weaver, who pitched 1⅓ innings of scoreless relief, expressed the team's relief, stating, “Finally. This should just be a reminder that this game humbles you in so many ways, individually and as a team.” Clay Holmes, who pitched seven sterling innings allowing two runs, also emphasized the importance of collective belief during adversity. “You have double the belief in yourself when you have a lot of people saying you shouldn’t,” Holmes noted, hoping the early struggles would unite the team.

Lindor’s injury cast a shadow over the much-needed victory. He had been a bright spot for the Mets recently, coming off a three-run homer on Tuesday and collecting two singles and an RBI before his premature departure. The $341 million shortstop grimaced rounding the bases after scoring a run, leading to his removal. An MRI is scheduled for Thursday, and given Soto's recent experience with a similar injury, a prolonged absence for Lindor is anticipated. This presents a significant challenge for the Mets, as Lindor has been a consistent presence in their lineup, playing 160 or more games in three of the past four seasons.

Juan Soto, meanwhile, served as the designated hitter in his return, going 1-for-3 with a walk and being caught stealing. Despite his insistence on being 100% healthy, manager Carlos Mendoza indicated a cautious approach, planning off days and flexibility to manage Soto's workload, especially with potential extensive running on bases. Soto acknowledged the discomfort of watching the team's spiral from the outside while rehabbing, but maintained an optimistic outlook, drawing parallels to his 2019 World Series win with the Nationals after a similarly challenging start to their season.

Other key moments in the game included Byron Buxton's 409-foot leadoff homer in the sixth inning that tied the score for the Twins. Earlier, Vientos, despite hitting the game-winner, had a baserunning gaffe in the sixth, running through a stop sign at third and being thrown out. Vientos defended his aggressive play, saying, “I followed my instincts . . . I’m not going to play passive on the baseball field.” Manager Mendoza, after the win, simply remarked, “I’m glad he got that hit.”

The Mets' pitching staff also saw changes, with Christian Scott reporting to Citi Field ahead of his scheduled Thursday start. Scott, who impressed in spring training before a torn UCL sidelined him in 2024, has shown promising form in Triple-A Syracuse. His call-up comes as David Peterson and Sean Manaea are relegated to bullpen duty due to recent struggles, while Kodai Senga, despite his own difficulties, retains his rotation spot. The team's playoff probability had plummeted from 77.4% to 39.5% during their losing skid, highlighting the urgent need for a turnaround. This victory, coupled with the new injury, marks another bizarre chapter in a Mets season already filled with unexpected developments.