Byron Buxton’s 479-foot home run finally stopped traveling.
The Minnesota Twins hope to keep going, though. They will take on the Texas Rangers in the decisive contest of a three-game series Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Buxton will look to stay hot in the series finale. He has tallied three hits in back-to-back games, and his mammoth home run on Wednesday night helped pave the way for a 6-2 Twins victory.
“I ain’t going to lie, I knew that was a good one,” Buxton said after belting the second-longest homer in the major leagues this year. “… That’s exactly how far I can hit it right there.”
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said the blast provided a signature moment of a six-game homestand. Minnesota will try to finish the homestand at 3-3 with a victory on Thursday.
“We’re all allowed to enjoy it, too, in the dugout,” Baldelli said of Buxton’s homer. “I think everyone — (every) player and staff member alike — we’ll have that one in our memory banks. There are a few homers that you remember. I think that one will stick.
“… He’s doing everything right now.”
Texas will try to subdue the Twins’ good feelings and escape with a series win on the road.
Rangers left-hander Patrick Corbin (3-5, 3.52 ERA) is scheduled to make his 12th start. He is looking to snap a four-start winless streak and earn his first victory since May 14 against the Colorado Rockies.
In his most recent outing, Corbin took a loss on Friday despite limiting the Washington Nationals to two runs on five hits in eight innings. He walked none, struck out two and threw 60 of 89 pitches for strikes.
Corbin has faced the Twins three times in his career, going 1-2 with a 7.00 ERA in those outings.
The Twins will counter with right-hander Bailey Ober (4-2, 3.78), who is slated to make his 14th start. His winless streak is even longer than Corbin’s at six starts, and he is searching for his first victory since May 3 against the Boston Red Sox.
In three career starts against the Rangers, Ober is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA.
Rangers outfielder Evan Carter hopes to continue his hot streak at the plate in the series finale. Carter went 2-for-3 with a double on Wednesday after ripping homers in each of his previous two games.
Carter has boosted his batting average to .278 with three homers and eight RBIs in 18 games this year. He spent the first month of the season in the minors, and he missed 14 games from mid-May to early June due to a right quad strain.
“I just feel on time right now,” Carter said. “I’m liking the way I’m looking. I’ve been putting good swings down, regardless of what the outcome is. That’s all you can really ask for.
“Hitting is really hard, so all I can control is being on time and putting a good swing down. I’ve been doing that. I finally got some results, so that’s always great.”
Minnesota is 20-11 at home this season. Texas is 12-23 on the road.
–Field Level Media
