Alonso home run to start the Mets on their way to a 15-2 loss against the Twins

NEW YORK — Pete Alonso singled to start a six-run fourth inning and the New York Mets beat the Minnesota Twins 15-2 on Monday night, turning the opener of an interleague series between playoff contenders into a lopsided laugh.

Jeff McNeil and Luis Torrens each drove in three runs for the Mets, who struck out twice in a three-inning span. Every starter had at least one RBI besides rookie Jesse Winker, who homered and homered in his first Mets game before being lifted in the sixth.

Winker was acquired from Washington for minor league pitcher Tyler Stuart in a trade finalized Sunday morning.

Jose Quintana (6-6) fell behind 1-0 after five pitches, but kept Minnesota off the scoreboard after that, throwing six effective innings to win his second straight game.

Torrens had three of New York’s 17 hits against six Twins pitchers. The most successful was perhaps outfielder Matt Wallner, who held the Mets scoreless over the final 1 1/3 innings while throwing 40-42 mph rainbows in his first major league appearance on the mound.

Alonso went deep in the second game in a row and scored two goals. Brandon Nimmo and JD Martinez also had two RBIs.

New York’s first seven batters reached safely in the fourth against rookie starter Simeon Woods Richardson (3-2), a former Mets laborer. The Mets sent 10 batters to base in that inning and 11 in a five-run sixth that made it 11-1.

Jose Buttó pitched three innings for his second save, giving up a solo home run to Ryan Jeffers in the ninth. Jeffers dropped a home run in the seventh on a sensational catch by a leaping Tyrone Taylor in right field.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: 3B Jose Miranda was not in the lineup but planned to practice before the game and appeared to be fine, coach Rocco Baldelli said. Miranda exited Sunday’s victory at Detroit in the first inning after being hit in the cheek by a 95 mph fastball. It appeared his protective ear took most of the impact, and he walked off the field unassisted after being examined by the athletic training staff.

Mets: C Francisco Alvarez sat out with a sore left shoulder but was available off the bench. … CF Harrison Bader (right ankle) returned to the lineup after missing five games. He was hit in the ankle by an 83 mph slider in the sixth and shaken, but remained in the game. … RHP Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder impingement) is scheduled to make his next rehab appearance Wednesday, perhaps at Double-A Binghamton. … Rookie reliever Dedniel Núñez (right pronator strain) has not yet returned to pitching. “We are still waiting for him to be symptom-free,” said coach Carlos Mendoza. “He’s getting better.”

NEXT

Twins: Rookie right-hander David Festa (1-1, 8.16 ERA) makes his third major league start in the middle of the series on Tuesday night. Festa was born in nearby New Jersey and attended Seton Hall.

Mets: LHP Sean Manaea (6-4, 3.74) is 5-1 with a 2.48 ERA against the Twins.

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