Thanks to Byron Buxton, the bleak outlook that the Minnesota Twins had entering the ninth inning of Friday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles turned around 180 degrees.
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Byron Buxton came to the plate with a man on. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Buxton sent a ball over the left field wall, sending the Minnesota fans into a state of euphoria and giving his Twins a 3-2 win.
BYRON BUXTON CALLED GAME!!!!#MNTWINS pic.twitter.com/oNFrtYcFdv
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) July 2, 2022
As soon as the ball went over the fence, MLB fans were sending well-earned praise Buxton’s way.
https://twitter.com/mattkummer/status/1543066710672023553
Best player in baseball 😏 #mntwins https://t.co/ja2ZT0KTLK
— Matt Zenner (@mzenn3) July 2, 2022
BYRON BUXTON OH MY GOD
— Jon Becker (@jonbecker_) July 2, 2022
Byron Buxton is that guy pic.twitter.com/FDc2oBS43V
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 2, 2022
BYRON BUXTON YOU ARE INCREDIBLE
— Win For Vin (@winnnforvinnn) July 2, 2022
Byron Buxton's 48 home runs since his last grounded into double play are the most HR between GDP since double plays were officially tracked for batters in both leagues (1940)
h/t @EliasSports
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 2, 2022
Byron Buxton is a bad, bad man.
— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) July 2, 2022
Another player that must be credited for Friday’s dramatic finish Luis Arráez. Arráez led off the inning for the Twins, who didn’t have even baserunner between the second and eighth innings.
But Arráez not only broke that string but did so in a lengthy nine-pitch at-bat that ended with an infield single. That put the tying run on base, brought the winning run to the plate and gave Buxton plenty of pitches to see from Baltimore reliever, Jorge López.
Arráez didn’t get quite as much praise as Buxton but his contributions weren’t unnoticed.
Luis Arraez set up the Byron Buxton homer with an outstanding, nine-pitch at-bat and single. By time Buxton got up there, he’d seen all of Jorge López’s arsenal. That was the first homer López has allowed all season in 37-plus innings. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 2, 2022
Arraez with another tremendous at bat to make the walk off possible. Twins are lucky to have him, they don’t make players like him anymore. pic.twitter.com/6dJL7OElEp
— Jeff (@MNTwinsZealot) July 2, 2022
That was a great at-bat by Arraez to lead off the ninth and then Buxton being Buxton against a guy in Lopez who hadn’t allowed a run in 18 innings.
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) July 2, 2022
The walk-off blast was Buxton’s 21st home run of the season. He’s not only already at his career-high but is tied for fourth in the American League with Anthony Rizzo, trailing only Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Yordan Alvarez
