Wallner and Buxton homer to back López as Twins finally win in New York with 8-3 victory over Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Wallner hit a two-run homer and came within inches of another round-tripper as the Minnesota Twins finally won a game in New York by beating the Mets 8-3 on Wednesday.

Byron Buxton also connected and Pablo López (10-7) pitched six innings of three-hit ball as the Twins prevented a three-game sweep.

“We knew the importance of just playing a good game today,” López said. “The first two games didn’t go as planned, but you still come to the clubhouse with the expectation that everyone’s going to do their job and try to put the W on the board.”

The Twins were outscored 17-2 in the first two games against the Mets and 39-13 while losing their first five games in New York this season. The Yankees swept Minnesota from June 4-6.

“We’ve been joking about it,” said Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach, who robbed Francisco Lindor of a leadoff homer. “The statistic out there with us and New York — whatever.”

Wallner’s homer capped a five-run outburst in the third, when Luis Severino (7-4) gave up five straight hits to begin the inning. The outfielder nearly went deep again in the fifth, but center fielder Tyrone Taylor reached over the fence and got a piece of the ball as Wallner settled for a double.

“We were just building off of each other there and just stacking up hits,” Wallner said. “Anytime you can put up five (runs) in an inning, you think you have a pretty good chance to win.”

The big day concluded an eventful series for Wallner, who made his big league pitching debut by tossing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in Monday’s 15-2 loss.

Buxton hit a solo homer in the second. Trevor Larnach, Max Kepler, Royce Lewis, Carlos Santana and Ryan Jeffers each had an RBI for the Twins.

Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer off López in the bottom of the second.

Severino allowed six runs and six hits in a season-low three innings. He had lasted at least five innings in each of his first 20 starts.

The Twins got hits off a pair of sliders as well as a cutter, a sweeper and a changeup during the third inning.

“I think the only thing that was OK today was the fastball,” Severino said. “And you can’t navigate through a lineup with only a fastball. Changeup was not there. Slider (and) sweeper (were) not on today.”

SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA

The Mets won’t activate right-hander Paul Blackburn, acquired Tuesday from Oakland, until he starts the opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Blackburn remained in California because the Athletics were in the midst of a series with the San Francisco Giants when the trade was announced.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: Manager Rocco Baldelli said Kepler (head), who left in the sixth inning, passed initial concussion tests. Kepler was hit in the helmet by a throw from Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez as he tried to cut down Larnach stealing second in the fourth. Kepler, who struck out on the pitch, was called for batter’s interference and Larnach was ruled out. … RHP Trevor Richards, acquired Tuesday from the Toronto Blue Jays, was activated and RHP Brock Stewart (shoulder strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday. … RHP Justin Topa (left patellar tendinitis) struck out two in a perfect inning Tuesday for Triple-A St. Paul.

Mets: LF Brandon Nimmo fouled a ball off his left foot in the sixth and was replaced in the outfield by Ben Gamel to start the seventh. X-rays were negative, and Nimmo is expected to play Friday. … RHP Reed Garrett (elbow inflammation) hit 97 mph off the mound while facing hitters and is expected to pitch for Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. … Alvarez went 0 for 4 with an RBI after sitting out the first two games of the series with a sore left shoulder.

UP NEXT

Twins: After an off day, RHP Joe Ryan (6-7, 3.69 ERA) is slated to start Friday’s three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox, who will counter with RHP Davis Martin (0-0, 3.38).

Mets: Embark upon a 10-game, four-city road trip Friday, when Blackburn (4-2, 4.41 ERA) makes his New York debut after beginning his career with eight seasons in Oakland. The Angels had not announced a scheduled starter yet.

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

New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo López throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, left, and pitcher Jhoan Duran celebrate after a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. The Twins defeated the Mets 8-3. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo López throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Minnesota Twins outfielders Trevor Larnach, left, Byron Buxton, center, and Manuel Margot celebrate after a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. The Twins defeated the Mets 8-3. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso watches, right, watches as Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, left, reacts as Minnesota Twins' Matt Wallner crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Minnesota Twins' Matt Wallner runs up the first baseline after his two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

BANGKOK (AP) — Floods and landslides in Myanmar triggered by last week’s Typhoon Yagi and seasonal monsoon rains have claimed at least 226 lives, with 77 people missing, state-run media reported Tuesday. The new figures push the total number of dead in Southeast Asia from the storm past 500.

The accounting of casualties has been slow, in part due to communication difficulties with the affected areas. Myanmar is wracked by a civil war that began in 2021 after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Independent analysts believe the ruling military controls much less than half of the country’s territory.

Typhoon Yagi earlier hit Vietnam, northern Thailand and Laos, killing almost 300 people in Vietnam, 42 in Thailand and four in Laos, according to the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance. It said 21 people were killed in the Philippines, with another 26 missing.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said on Monday that an estimated 631,000 people may have been affected by flooding across Myanmar. There were already 3.4 million displaced people in Myanmar at the beginning of September, according to the U.N. refugee agency, mostly because of war and unrest in recent years.

Heavy rains from the typhoon and the seasonal monsoon brought widespread flash floods to Myanmar, especially the central regions of Mandalay, Magway, Bago and the Ayeyarwaddy Delta; the eastern states Shan, Kayah, Kayin and Mon; and the country’s capital, Naypyitaw.

Some flooded areas have started to see water levels recede but others in the Shan and Kayah states remain critical.

More than 160,000 houses have been damaged and 438 temporary relief camps have been opened for more than 160,000 flood victims, Myanma Alinn reported. The military government announced that nearly 240,000 people have been displaced.

Myanma Alinn said 117 government offices and buildings, 1,040 schools, 386 religious buildings, roads, bridges, power towers, and telecom towers were damaged by the floods in 56 townships.

It also said nearly 130,000 animals were killed and more than 259,000 hectares (640,000 acres) of agricultural land were damaged by the floods.

The U.N.’s humanitarian affairs agency said food, drinking water, medicine, clothes, dignity kits, and shelters are urgent needs for the flood victims but alleviation efforts are hampered by blocked roads, damaged bridges and ongoing armed clashes.

Vice Senior Gen. Soe Win, the second-ranking member of Myanmar’s ruling military council, said the country had received relief aid from other countries, and some humanitarian assistance from the Association of Southeast Asia, will arrive soon.

Soe Win, speaking at a meeting of the National Disaster Management Committee on Monday, said that the extent of flooding in the capital was unprecedented, and cleaning and rehabilitation activities in the flooded areas began Thursday as the water level declined.

Myanmar experiences extreme weather during the monsoon virtually every year. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 people around the Irrawaddy River delta. The then-military government was harshly discredited when it delayed acceptance of outside aid.

Local residents carry food on their cart, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents carry their belongings along a flooded road, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents carry food walking in the rain, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents carry their belongings along a flooded road, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents wade through flooded water at a broken bridge, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents wade through flooded water at a broken bridge, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents travel by boat on a flooded road, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

A boy wades through a flooded road, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

A women and child wade through a flooded road, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents wade through flooded water at a broken bridge, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Flood victims receive relief supplies from a private donor in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Flood victims take rest at temporary camp opened at monastery in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

A chicken stands on wooden beam of a half-submerged building along a flooded road in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

A woman looks out at flooded areas in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

Local residents wash clothes along a flooded road in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)