Martin makes unreal HR-robbing catch in statement return to Majors

MINNEAPOLIS -- The reactions said it all, really.

Austin Martin made one of those catches that words simply can’t fully describe on Sunday, when he jumped up and reached over the center-field wall to rob Shea Langeliers of a two-run homer in the second inning with what was certainly one of the best home run robberies to have taken place at Target Field in the ballpark’s history.

“Hell yeah, I was surprised!” Martin said. “I felt it go in my glove, but my whole arm kind of went over, so I didn't know what I would be bringing back. I didn't expect to bring back a baseball, so when I looked and I had it, I was like, ‘Dang, that's not bad.’”

That felt like the only ball that didn’t leave Target Field as part of a slugging battle, during which Martin also cracked two hits, including a go-ahead RBI double. Royce Lewis continued his tear with a homer and Jose Miranda crushed the eventual game-winning blast in an 8-7 win over the A’s.

With the youth movement rising to the occasion, the Twins finished a four-game sweep of the A’s at home by winning both games in Sunday’s doubleheader, putting them firmly back on one of their upswings as part of this seesaw season -- this time, featuring seven wins in their last eight games.

“[The catch] might be a game-saving play in and of itself, but it was huge in the moment and it was huge at the end,” manager Rocco Baldelli said.

Martin’s highlight-reel catch helped set the tone, and for a taste of how it felt in the moment, just watch the emotional odyssey of the relievers in the A’s bullpen, who had a front-row seat to the catch as it unfolded at the wall separating them from the warning track in left-center field.

Oakland right-hander Vinny Nittoli had his arms raised in celebration long before the ball came to earth, and T.J. McFarland crouched in eager anticipation next to Nittoli, ready to explode in triumph.

Instead, there was only agony when Martin perfectly timed his leap from the warning track, reached back and snared the ball on its way down. McFarland contorted his body in a spin as he threw his hands up to his head, while Nittoli crouched with balled fists in disbelief. Sitting in a chair next to the scene, left-hander Brady Basso just threw up his arms in defeat.

“That was awesome,” Carlos Correa said. “It's good when you can replace [Byron Buxton] in center field and still have a guy that can make those types of plays.”

And behind them, Twins right-hander Louie Varland’s mouth gaped in shock as he threw his own arms up in triumph -- as did bullpen catcher Anderson De La Rosa.

“That’s one he’ll be able to look back on throughout his career,” Baldelli said. “You’re only going to save so many home runs, no matter who you are.”

Talk about a statement return to the Majors for Martin -- and talk about a continued statement in every way for Lewis, who homered in both halves of the doubleheader as part of the Twins’ seven-homer outburst in bashing their way to the sweep.

After yanking a pitch just foul that had plenty of distance to reach the seats but barely couldn’t stay fair, Lewis sent the very next offering even farther, an estimated 427 feet into left-center, where there was very little doubt that it would stay fair.

At this point, the Twins just shake their heads and watch Lewis as he’s on the sort of tear that’s seemingly consistent whenever he’s healthy -- something he even alluded to himself upon his return from his quadriceps tear, when he noted in the third person: “Royce is going to play like Royce.”

“I get crap for it for sure,” Lewis said. “I love it. I don't care. It's true. That's all I'm going to do -- is do what I do.”

It shouldn’t come as any surprise, too, that Lewis is now the only player in Twins history to homer seven times in his first 12 games of a season.

It’s just what he does.

“Probably don’t follow what I’m mouthing while he’s taking these swings, because it’s more than anything I’ve ever seen,” Baldelli said. “There’s a dangerous nature about him at the plate. When he’s on your side, you can’t help but smile when he’s doing it.”