Byron Buxton was the game's final batter Monday. He nearly caused there to be more.
When an 84-mph slider from Astros closer Ken Giles creased the middle of the plate during his two-out, ninth-inning at-bat, Buxton pounced. He launched the ball about 360 feet down the left field line and threw the bat away, hopeful he had tied the score with his first home run of the season.
He thought it would stay fair "for a little bit," Buxton said afterward. "And then when it got toward the outfield, you could tell it started changing direction."
It landed just to the left of the foul pole, a blast that had the crowd cheering, then groaning.
"He got it out there a fair amount," Twins manager Paul Molitor said, "but he's been hooking some balls lately."
Still, it was close enough that Molitor asked umpires to review it. No luck. And Buxton grounded out on a 98-mph fastball three pitches later to end the game.
PHIL MILLER
