Woods Richardson detailed how it felt to get a win in New York.
The Minnesota Twins entered Tuesday night at Citi Field trying to snap a four-game losing streak, and they pulled it off in dramatic fashion.
Trailing 3-0 against a Mets team desperate to end its own 11-game skid, Minnesota scored five unanswered runs and walked away with a 5-3 victory.
Simeon Woods Richardson got the start and battled through five innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out two while keeping the game within reach.
Richardson Talks About the Atmosphere
After the win, Woods Richardson opened up about what it felt like pitching inside a hostile building while knowing his team needed him to limit the damage.
"You could feel the tension in the building, but we just focused on our game," Woods Richardson said. "My job was to keep us close enough to give the bats a chance. Watching the offense chip away and then take the lead in the 9th was incredible. It's a great way to start this road series."
That mindset fits what first-year manager Derek Shelton has been preaching all season.
The Twins are still sorting out bullpen roles and dealing with rotation injuries after a tough stretch that dropped them to .500, but the team-first attitude has held firm even during losing streaks.
Woods Richardson was recalled from Triple-A to fill in for the injured Mick Abel, and he embraced the opportunity rather than let the circumstances rattle him.
The Comeback
Byron Buxton broke up Nolan McLean's perfect game bid with a leadoff single in the sixth, then crushed a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Luke Keaschall tied it in the seventh with an RBI single, and the game stayed knotted heading into the ninth.
That is when things fell apart for Mets closer Devin Williams, who walked the first two batters before a throwing error by Mark Vientos loaded the bases.
Keaschall came through again with a go-ahead single, and Matt Wallner drew a walk that pushed the lead to 5-3 before Cole Sands worked a clean ninth to seal it.
Keaschall's ability to come up big in pressure spots has been a running theme since his breakout last season, and Tuesday was another example of why the Twins view him as a core piece going forward.
A Bumpy Year
Woods Richardson's 2026 has not gone the way he wanted.
He entered Tuesday with a 6.10 ERA and was sent to the minors before Abel's injury created an opening.
His numbers still need work, but the way he competed showed a pitcher willing to grind rather than fold.
The win moved the Twins to 12-11 and into second place in the AL Central while the Mets dropped to 7-16 with their 12th consecutive loss.
Minnesota has a chance to build momentum this week against a reeling New York club, and outings like this from Woods Richardson are what this team needs to stay relevant.