MINNEAPOLIS – On a night when center fielder Byron Buxton left the game due to injury, the Twins came back from an early two-run deficit to beat the Kansas City Royals, 5-3, Friday at Target Field.
Buxton was injured in the third inning after he crashed into the outfield wall in center field while making a running catch.
The Twins announced later in the game that Buxton exited due to a right shoulder contusion.
Carter Jensen laced a ball to deep center field leading off the top of the third. Buxton raced back and made a backhanded catch before running face-first into the padded wall.
The Twins’ training staff went out to check on Buxton, who convinced them he was healthy enough to stay in the game. He even made a running catch on a Vinnie Pasquantino fly ball to end the inning.
However, when his spot in the batting order came up second in the bottom of the third inning, Tristan Gray entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Buxton.