Sometimes the Twins don't even need a hit to score a run, though that might only work when Byron Buxton is on the field.
Buxton engineered the Twins' first run after his leadoff walk in the third inning. He stole second base during Jorge Polanco's at-bat, then scampered to third on the throw from Polanco's fly out.
All it took was a sacrifice fly from Mitch Garver for Buxton's outstanding speed to start the Twins off to their eventual 3-2 victory Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers in front of an announced Target Field crowd of 16,329.
"He looks like he's moving faster than everything else," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Buxton. "It's a fast-forward kind of thing, but we're used to that. He picks his spots. He's a smart player. He knows how to take advantage of things when the opportunities are out there."
The Twins added some padding to that lead in the seventh inning with Miguel Sano's 30th home run of the season, the second time he's accomplished that mark in his career (he hit a career-high 34 in 2019). Pinch hitter Nick Gordon then walked, eventually coming around on Max Kepler's sacrifice fly.
Twins starter Charlie Barnes learned of his start Sunday and was on a 65-pitch count that saw him through four innings, allowing only three hits and three walks. The bullpen continued a strong recent run with Jorge Alcala, Tyler Duffey, Caleb Thielbar and Ralph Garza Jr. producing shutout single innings.
"It's always impressive to watch them," Barnes said of the relievers. "Really since I've gotten up here in the back half of the year, the way they've thrown the ball has just been really impressive. I kind of expect them to do that when I come in."
