Twins beat Mets 5-2 with help of Álvarez's error in 3-run seventh inning
Andrew Stevenson scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when he stole third and continued home on catcher Francisco Álvarez's throwing error, and the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Mets 5-2 on Friday night.
Minnesota began the night with a 6 1/2-game AL Central lead over second-place Cleveland, which played at the Los Angeles Angels.
With the score 2-2, Matt Wallner walked against Sean Reid-Foley (0-1), Stevenson pinch ran and Willi Castro singled. With the runners going, Reid-Foley bounced a changeup to Edouard Julien that glanced off Álvarez's glove and rebounded off the backstop. The catcher fired a throw that bounced past third base and down the left-field line for an error that allowed Stevenson to score from second.
Royce Lewis added an RBI double and scored on Max Kepler's bloop single off Grant Hartwig.
Caleb Thielbar (3-1) pitched a scoreless seventh in relief of Dallas Keuchel, who allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. Jhoan Duran pitched a hitless ninth for his 25th save in 30 chances.
Mets starter Kodai Senga gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. He struck out five to raise his total to 181, moving three ahead of Jerry Koosman for second-most strikeouts by a Mets rookie.
Royce Lewis hit an RBI double in the first, but Francisco Lindor hit a two-run double in the fourth. Corlos Correa tied the score in the bottom half with his 18th homer.
ROSTER MOVE
Minnesota placed 1B/OF Joey Gallo (bruised left foot) on the 10-day IL and activated 1B/OF Alex Kirilloff from the IL. Kirilloff was 12 for 27 with two home runs and six RBIs in a six-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mets: OF DJ Stewart (back) was still "a little sore" Friday, manager Buck Showalter said, and was not in the lineup but could be ready for Saturday's game.
Twins: CF Michael A. Taylor (right hamstring strain) took batting practice against teammate Brock Stewart. Taylor also planned to run on the field Friday for the first time since going on the 10-day IL.
UP NEXT
Mets: LHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.40 ERA) hasn't recorded a decision in his last seven starts, but the Mets have won two of the last three times Peterson has taken the mound.
Twins: RHP Kenta Maeda (3-7, 4.73 ERA) has allowed three runs or more in each of his last four starts. His last win was Aug. 5 against Arizona.
