New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos certainly did his part in helping the team end a 12-game losing skid on Wednesday evening with a 3-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins. However, it didn’t come without a brutal mistake.
While Vientos ultimately drove in the game-winning run with a bloop single in the bottom of the eighth inning, he decided to ignore third base coach Tom Leiper in the sixth. Vientos, who was on first base, ran through Leiper’s stop sign, and was ultimately thrown out by 10 feet on a double in the gap off the bat of Marcus Semien.
Following the contest, Vientos expressed zero remorse for the decision. The infielder thought he had a chance at scoring.
“I was following my instincts. Once I saw the ball hit the wall, I was like, ‘I was going to score,” Vientos recalled, via MLB.com. “[Leiper] did give me the stop sign, but I followed my instincts and I went home.”
Thankfully, he made up for the blunder.
New York Mets Finally End Skid
GettyJuan Soto #22 and Luke Weaver #30 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on April 22, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Although it’s just one victory, the Mets are at least heading in the right direction again. Now, it’s about building momentum and feeding off the positive things they did. Skipper Carlos Mendoza didn’t want to focus on Vientos’ mistake; instead, he looked at the full picture.
“You can’t come to the ballpark expecting the worst when you are going through a very rough stretch,” he said. “You come to the ballpark expecting good things to happen. Yes, it doesn’t matter how hard it is or how things are unfolding; your mindset has to expect something good to happen.”
Vientos also felt relief after serving as the difference-maker.
“I was like, ‘Yes, we scored a run.’ I did my job and we took the lead,” Vientos said. “We are happy to get this win. We can just go play. It’s still early. We are in April. We wanted to get this one out of the way and still play them.”
Lindor Injury Concerning News For Mets
GettyFrancisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets looks on against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 17, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The victory didn’t come without concern, though. Shortstop Francisco Lindor exited in the fourth inning with what the team described as calf tightness. He slid into home plate and got up gingerly.
Lindor is set to undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury. It’s not great news considering his importance in the heart of the lineup. Plus, Juan Soto just returned from the IL, so it would be brutal if he simply traded places with Lindor.
The Mets will be looking to win the series finale tonight against the Twins, with Christian Scott on the hill. He hasn’t pitched since 2024 due to Tommy John surgery.
Mets’ Mark Vientos Expresses Zero Regret For Terrible Base Running Mistake