MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins third baseman Jose Miranda matched an MLB record when he recorded a hit in 12 consecutive at-bats with his single off Hunter Brown in the fourth inning on Saturday in Minnesota¡¯s 9-3 win over the Astros.

The only other hitters on record with hits in 12 consecutive at-bats are the Tigers' Walt Dropo (1952), the Red Sox's Pinky Higgins (1938) and the Cubs' Johnny Kling (1902).

¡°That was a long time ago,¡± Miranda said when informed of the exclusive club he joined. ¡°I¡¯m out of words. It¡¯s something really special for the game and myself too. It¡¯s great. It¡¯s great to be a part of history.¡±

• These players got how many hits in a row?

It's the longest streak in the Expansion Era (since 1961). Dustin Pedroia (2016) of the Red Sox and Bernie Williams (2002) of the Yankees both got hits in 11 straight at-bats.

The hit also made it 13 consecutive plate appearances where Miranda reached base. He was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance Saturday before adding his two singles.

¡°With my work before the games, I¡¯ve been feeling good,¡± Miranda said. ¡°When I¡¯m going out there, like I said before, I¡¯m trying to get a good pitch. When I have a good rhythm and balance, I feel pretty good. I feel pretty comfortable too at the plate. It¡¯s good to feel like that.¡±

The streak almost reached 13 straight hits, as Miranda lined a pitch that landed just foul down the right-field line in the sixth. Brown finally retired Miranda on a flyout to left field. Twins fans gave Miranda a standing ovation on his way back to the dugout and another when he reached his position before the seventh inning.

¡°We were able to put our hands together for him a little bit inside,¡± manager Rocco Baldelli said after the game. ¡°I think the guys really enjoyed being able to celebrate quite the run. It¡¯s very special.¡±

One of those teammates was Brooks Lee, whose first Major League homer was somewhat overshadowed in the celebration of Miranda¡¯s history-making feat.

¡°I¡¯m not surprised. I¡¯ve been with [Miranda] for, this is my second year now, and every time I¡¯ve played with him, he just rakes,¡± Lee said. ¡°He rakes in live at-bats, he rakes in spring, he rakes during the season. It¡¯s just what he does.¡±

¡°I mean, there¡¯s no real words,¡± Baldelli added. ¡°You¡¯ve just got to kind of stop talking and enjoy it. Never seen something like that go on, on a field, over the course of a few days, ever, anywhere. No one has, actually. At least no one on our team, in our clubhouse.¡±