Sonny Gray returned from injury and struck out 7 batters in 4 innings and the Twins bullpen kept the Athletics scoreless the rest of the game in a 1-0 ballgame Saturday afternoon at Target Field, but the focus is once again on Byron Buxton.
The oft-injured star outfielder, whose 9 home runs are tied for the most in the majors, left after grounding out in the eighth inning, with the Twins saying Buxton left because of right hip tightness.
“Buck came out with right hip tightness. He’s been obviously battling and he’s just an absolute warrior. I think hitting first base early on and it just kept tightening up on him, so that’s when we made the move and we’ll see how it is tomorrow,” acting manager Jayce Tingler said. Tingler is managing while Rocco Baldelli is in COVID protocols.
Right hip tightness for Byron Buxton, Jayce Tingler says. Thinks it might have happened in that first at-bat of the game. Saw it continuing to tighten throughout the game. They’ll see how he feels tomorrow.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) May 7, 2022
It’s worth noting that Buxton missed 39 games with a strained hip in 2021.
As for the game, Minnesota’s only source of offense came on a towering home run by Jorge Polanco. He launched it 451 feet to become the eighth player to ever hit a ball into the restaurant above the batter’s eye at Target Field. He also doubled and singled to finish a triple shy of the cycle.
Jhoan Duran mowed down the Athletics in the eighth and ninth innings, striking out five batters. He did walk and hit batters in the ninth, but got out of the jam for the two-inning save.
Minnesota, winners of 13 of the last 16 games, goes for the series sweep Sunday afternoon at Target Field.
