Buxton’s Power Fuels Twins’ Win as Starting Rotation Struggles

Overview

• The Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 in Arlington on June 15, with Josh Bell’s three-run homer and a Byron Buxton solo shot providing the offense that held up.
• Byron Buxton has surged with four homers in the past week and 23 on the season, putting him near the top of MLB home-run leaders and lifting Minnesota’s lineup.
• Royce Lewis has returned to the lineup and played five games at first base during the week, delivering three home runs and adding a steady bat in the corner corner-infield role.
• Minnesota’s starting pitchers have been inconsistent, surrendering 24 earned runs in 32 innings over the past week and carrying a combined starters’ ERA of 4.61 for the season.
• Rookie Mike Paredes delivered his best outing in the June 15 start and a bullpen that covered 4.1 scoreless innings preserved the win as the Twins remain roughly three games back of the final wild-card spot with Mick Abel and Kendry Rojas expected to return soon.