Byron Buxton stays sharp with third home run as Twins top Red Sox

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Regardless of the results, Rocco Baldelli is just pleased with the quality at-bats Byron Buxton is having this spring.

"He's in counts where he's getting some tough pitches," the Twins manager said after Buxton belted his third home run of the spring in a 4-3 victory over Boston on Friday at Hammond Stadium. "He's laying off them and putting himself in a position to keep these at-bats going and ultimately having some good success."

Buxton tagged a Domingo Tapia pitch onto the berm in left field, making him 6-for-10 this spring with 11 RBI.

Eddie Rosario also hit a solo homer for the Twins, and LaMonte Wade's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth delivered the tying and go-ahead runs.

Michael Pineda hit 94 miles per hour on the radar gun several times while throwing two scoreless innings in his first spring training action with the Twins. The righthander missed all of last year while rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery.

Trevor Hildenberger worked the eighth and picked up the win. Ryne Harper earned the save.

La VELLE E. NEAL III