Could the Twins make a move for Astros star third baseman?
Byron Buxton had three hits, drove in three runs and scored three times for the visiting Minnesota Twins in a 13-6 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the rubber game of their three-game series on Thursday afternoon in Phoenix.
Manuel Margot had two hits and two RBIs, and Willi Castro and Carlos Santana each had two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who have won four of five. Margot and Castro also scored two runs apiece.
Twins starter David Festa (1-0) took advantage of the run support to win his major league debut. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out two and walking one.
Arizona starter Jordan Montgomery (6-5) allowed eight runs (four earned) and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking one.
Ketel Marte homered and doubled for Arizona, which has lost four of five. Kevin Newman had two RBIs
The Twins scored six runs in the second inning and never looked back.
Ryan Jeffers, Buxton and Castro each singled with no outs to load the bases. After a strikeout, Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo made a diving stop on a grounder to keep the ball from getting through to left, but a run scored for a 1-0 lead.
Catcher’s interference brought home another run before Royce Lewis hit a grounder down the third base line that Newman fielded, but his throw sailed over the head of Marte at second, scoring two more runs for a 4-0 lead.
Jose Miranda drove in the fifth run of the inning with a sacrifice fly and Santana made it 6-0 with a double down the left field line, which scored Lewis from first.
In the third, Buxton beat out a routine grounder to shortstop and Castro followed with a triple to center for a 7-0 lead. Margot then drove in Castro with a one-out sacrifice fly to make it 8-0.
Buxton connected on a 456-foot home run in the fourth with two aboard for an 11-0 lead.
Festa did not allow a hit until Marte homered to lead off the fourth and cut it to 11-1.
Arizona then strung together five two-out singles to score three more runs in the inning and make it 11-4.
