Brooks Lee's walk-off bunt gives the Twins a 6-5 win over the Rays on July 5, 2025. See how Byron Buxton's speed and Lee's heroics sealed the victory.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a game that had seen clutch home runs and stellar relief pitching, it was the smallest of small ball that delivered the biggest roar at Target Field. Brooks Lee, facing a drawn-in infield, dropped a perfect bunt down the first-base line, scoring a flying Byron Buxton from third to give the Minnesota Twins a thrilling 6-5 walk-off victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night.
With Byron Buxton's game-breaking speed on third, Brooks Lee laid down a perfect bunt single to walk it off. Small ball wins the day.
The bottom of the ninth was a masterclass in manufacturing a run. It started with Byron Buxton's greatest weapon: his patience, drawing a leadoff walk. A sharp single from Willi Castro put runners on the corners with nobody out, setting the stage for Brooks Lee. With the infield creeping in, Lee executed a perfect push bunt up the first-base line. Buxton, reading it all the way, broke for home and slid in easily for the winning run. The victory was made possible by earlier heroics, including Kody Clemens's game-tying 10th home run in the sixth inning and a three-hit performance from catcher Ryan Jeffers, who continues to be a rock in the middle of the order.
While the offense provided the walk-off fireworks, Jhoan Duran made sure they had the chance. The flamethrower was absolutely dominant, tossing two scoreless innings of relief and striking out three Rays batters to keep the game tied and earn the win. His overpowering stuff was a welcome sight. The bullpen supporting him saw a minor shakeup before the game, as the club recalled righty Travis Adams from St. Paul. To make room, lefty Kody Funderburk was optioned to Triple-A, as the front office continues to fine-tune the relief corps for the summer stretch.
The good news wasn't just confined to the big league club. Down on the farm, top outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez took a significant step in his recovery from a right hip strain. After starting his rehab in the Florida Complex League, Rodriguez has now been assigned to the Single-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. Sidelined since early June, the No. 2 prospect in the system is now on track for a potential return to action in early-to-mid July, providing a promising glimpse of future reinforcements.
What a way to win a ballgame. This kind of scrappy, opportunistic victory can galvanize a clubhouse. With the series against the tough Rays now even, the Twins will look to carry this momentum into Sunday's rubber match. A series win here would be a massive boost as they head into the heart of July.
