MINNEAPOLIS -- Byron Buxton keeps reminding the Twins of what he can do. As if they could forget.
Buxton triggered a six-run fourth inning that was all the offense Minnesota would get -- or need -- as the Twins secured their first home win of the season in a 6-1 victory against the Astros at Target Field on Saturday afternoon.
Jose Miranda¡¯s three-run homer was the big blow, but even Miranda acknowledged that Buxton was the catalyst. He led off the inning by being struck on the left hand by a pitch, stole a base, then scored from second on a short single to left field as the Twins ended streaks of 11 innings without a run and nine without a hit.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m the Energizer Bunny,¡± Buxton said, ¡°but when it starts, it kind of comes in bunches. So I think that goes for whoever would have started that, you know. It's always fun to be able to start that inning.¡±
It was vintage Buxton, a reminder of the player who stole 29 bases in 2017 and at his best is as complete a player as nearly anyone in the sport. He already has two steals and six runs scored in eight games this season.
However, before the steal, before the score, there was worry as a result of the blow to his left hand. It was clearly painful, as Buxton shook the hand vigorously. But after he was checked out by Twins trainers and manager Rocco Baldelli, Buxton stayed in the game and immediately stole second. Buxton said afterward that he was fine, but it was a scary moment at first.
¡°It's all right,¡± he said. ¡°I think the cold did a little bit more than the ball did. So we¡¯re good.¡±
Following a walk to Trevor Larnach, Ty France hit a soft looper to left field. Buxton hesitated in case the ball was caught, and when it dropped, it appeared for a moment he might be in danger of being thrown out on a force at third. But Jose Altuve couldn¡¯t corral the ball for a throw, so not only did Buxton make it to third safely, he motored all the way home.
¡°I thought [Altuve] deked me,¡± Buxton said.
Altuve hadn¡¯t though. He just didn¡¯t get to the ball, and then paid the price for not getting a handle on it for the throw.
¡°When he¡¯s on the bases, he puts a lot of pressure on you as a defender,¡± Altuve said. ¡°Gotta give a lot of credit to him. Not a lot of guys score on that play right there, but he might be the fastest guy in the league.¡±
Two batters later, Miranda went deep to make it 4-1 Twins, and they were never in serious danger after that. It was the first extra-base hit of the year for Miranda, who entered the game 3-for-19 on the young season.
For Buxton, it was a continuation of a healthy and dynamic start to the season. Like many of his lineup-mates, he hasn¡¯t had a lot of good luck on batted balls. But when he¡¯s gotten on base, he¡¯s made things happen.
¡°He¡¯s a jump-starter,¡± Baldelli said. ¡°He always gets something going and makes something happen. Because he can force the issue. He doesn¡¯t always have to wait for the game to come to him and take what he can get. He can actually just make things happen on the field. Sometimes you get hit and you get a little extra motivation to get aggressive and go steal a base. He got a pretty good jump, got us going, and then things start happening.¡±