Twins top Mariners 6-3 behind early boost on back-to-back HRs by Correa, Larnach

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carlos Correa and Trevor Larnach hit consecutive home runs for Minnesota in the first inning off Seattle starter George Kirby, and the Twins hung on to beat the Mariners 6-3 and help Chris Paddack win his fourth straight start on Wednesday night.

Willi Castro went deep in the second and hit an RBI triple in the fourth that put the Twins in front by three, giving Paddack (4-1) enough fuel to extend his career-long winning streak.

The right-hander, who missed most of the previous two seasons recovering from elbow reconstruction, matched his Twins best with 10 strikeouts while pitching into the sixth. He allowed a solo homer to Mitch Garver, the only run against him.

“That’s just a freaking good outing, all the way around," manager Rocco Baldelli said.

The Twins let Paddack throw a season-high 99 pitches, the second-most of his career, before Caleb Thielbar entered for the last two outs in the sixth. Paddack made a point to shake Baldelli’s hand and thank him for the trust.

“There’s going to be very few opportunities that I get this year to be able to ask Rocco for more,” Paddack said, “and tonight was one of those.”

Castro, who has taken over as the regular center fielder with Byron Buxton out, took hold of the club's lucky summer sausage in the dugout after going deep. After putting the heavily wrapped meat on the shelf for the next homer, repeatedly smelled his batting gloves to make sure there was no rot.

“I know that’s going to open one day," Castro said. "It’s almost there. That day is almost there.”

Cal Raleigh, whose pinch hit grand slam sparked the rally for a 10-6 victory on Tuesday, drove a two-out, two-run double off the wall in right-center off Griffin Jax to pull the Mariners within one in the seventh.

Minnesota's bullpen remains in flux with key setup men Brock Stewart and Justin Topa on the injured list. But Jax pitched a perfect eighth to bridge the gap to Jhoan Duran who got his third save with a perfect ninth inning after Ryan Jeffers and Max Kepler hit RBI doubles in the eighth to pad the lead.

The Mariners went 1 for 7 with three strikeouts with runners in scoring position.

“It’s just really hard to get rallies going and sustain any momentum when we’re not putting the ball in play,” manager Scott Servais said.

Kirby (3-3), who had allowed only two home runs to date this season, surrendered three-plus homers for just the third time in 64 career starts.

“He really throws the fastball," Castro said. "We were really aggressive with him.”

Kirby gave up four runs in five innings, failing to add to Seattle's total of 22 quality starts that's tied for the major league lead with Philadelphia.

“There’s nothing physically wrong with George. I know everybody’s got all these ideas, whatever,” Servais said. “It’s not coming out right now.”

Kirby Snead, who was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma before the game, pitched a perfect sixth in becoming the 1,000th player to appear in a game in Mariners history.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mariners: RHP Tayler Saucedo, who hyperextended his right knee while covering first base on Tuesday, was placed on the 15-day injured list before the game.

Twins: Topa, who was acquired from the Mariners in the trade for 2B Jorge Polanco to take a key late-inning role in the bullpen, aggravated the patellar tendinitis in his left knee in a rehab outing on Sunday.

UP NEXT

RHP Logan Gilbert (3-0, 1.69 ERA) starts for the Mariners in the finale of the four-game series on Thursday afternoon. RHP Pablo López (3-2, 4.30 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa gestures while crossing home plate after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez stands in the outfield during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Paddack points to the crowd while walking back to the dugout during a pitching change in the the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby stands on the mound after a solo home run by Minnesota Twins' Trevor Larnach during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby stands on the mound after a solo home run by Minnesota Twins' Trevor Larnach during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Paddack delivers during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins' Trevor Larnach runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins' Willi Castro (50) points while running the bases on a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

MIAMI (AP) — Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor each drove in two runs in a four-run first inning, star closer Edwin Díaz was not used in a save situation and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Sunday for just their second win in seven games.

Brandon Nimmo homered and Francisco Lindor singled twice following a 1-for-27 skid as the Mets rebounded from blowing a four-run, ninth-inning lead on Saturday and avoided a three-game sweep. New York stopped Miami’s four-game winning streak.

“You’re not defined by what you do the day before. You’re defined by how you get up from adversity,” Lindor said. “We wanted this one for sure. I think it’s important to win after a tough loss like that.”

Sean Manaea (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Sean Reid-Foley and Jake Diekman pitched an inning each, and Reed Garrett got his second save by allowing one hit over two innings with four strikeouts in a 34-pitch outing.

Díaz has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after serving up four homers in 8 1/3 innings. He has blown three of his last four save chances.

“We all believe in him. We all know he’s going to be back,” Garrett said. “Whenever my name’s called, I’ll pitch, but I know as a collective unit we all believe in Edwin and we know what he can do.”

New York (21-25) had dropped five games under .500 on Saturday for the first time since an 0-5 start.

“Not an easy weekend, not the way we expected, but we just have to continue to move forward,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Today was a huge win for us.”

With New York ahead 4-3, Nimmo hit a two-run homer off Anthony Bender in a three-run ninth that included Brett Baty’s RBI single.

“I was just looking for a good pitch in the middle of the plate to drive,” Nimmo said. “I was able to hit that ball — good launch angle — and hit it hard. Found its way out of the ballpark.”

Nimmo returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games because of a stomach illness.

“I’m coming around,” Nimmo said. “It’s been a little bit of a journey the last three days to get over the sickness. Right now, I’m just trying to get some appetite back. I’m definitely not at 100%. Just trying to battle through it and glad that I was able to help out there at the end and solidify the win.”

Dane Myers hit a two-run homer in the second, and Christian Bethancourt had a solo drive in the seventh against DIekman.

Sixto Sánchez (0-2) allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He gave up Taylor’s two-out double in the first and Bader’s single.

“He was obviously better second through the fourth inning but he put us in a hole early,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “At this level it’s hard to come back from four runs every single time. He’s not giving his teammates a chance to win.”

Miami recalled right-handed reliever Emmanuel Ramirez from Jacksonville and optioned right-handed reliever Anthony Maldonado to the Triple-A farm team.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: DH J.D. Martinez (flu symptoms) didn’t play but was available to pinch hit. Mendoza said Martinez played through the illness the prior two days.

Marlins: INF Tim Anderson (lower back tightness) homered and had three singles in five at-bats during a rehab game with Jacksonville on Saturday, then went 0 for 4 with a walk on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (0-1, 2.25) will start the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland on Monday. RHP Ben Lively (2-2, 3.06) will start for the Guardians.

Marlins: LHP Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.81) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Milwaukee on Monday. The Brewers will go with RHP Joe Ross (2-4, 4.61).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Sean Manaea delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) and Francisco Lindor (12) congratulate each other after they scored on a double by Tyrone Taylor, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader is unable to catch a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell for a double, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Marlins third base Emmanuel Rivera, right, tags out New York Mets' Harrison Bader as he slides into third base during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) catches a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell as both he and left fielder Tyrone Taylor (15) vie for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett, right, and catcher Omar Narvaez celebrate after the Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3, during a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)