The Twins lose 7-2 to the Nationals on July 27, 2025, as the offense sputters without Byron Buxton. Matt Wallner's huge homer isn't enough to stop the loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tough Sunday at Target Field, and the 7-2 loss to the Washington Nationals was only part of the story. The Twins took the field without their All-Star center fielder, Byron Buxton, and his absence was palpable as the offense struggled to find a rhythm, wasting a couple of early bright spots and ultimately succumbing to a decisive fifth-inning rally by the visitors.
Matt Wallner's second-inning home run traveled a staggering 452 feet with an exit velocity of 112.4 mph.
Before the game even started, the mood was dampened by news on Byron Buxton. An MRI revealed cartilage irritation in his rib cage, stemming from the discomfort that forced him out of Saturday's game. While the official diagnosis is 'day-to-day,' any time Buxton is out of the lineup, it's a major blow. His combination of power, speed, and defense is irreplaceable, and the team will be holding its collective breath hoping this is truly a short-term issue.
Despite the loss, there were moments that brought the Target Field crowd to its feet. Matt Wallner provided the first jolt, absolutely demolishing a baseball in the second inning. His solo shot, measured at a jaw-dropping 452 feet, tied the game at one. In the following inning, Trevor Larnach did his job, lofting a sacrifice fly to score Harrison Bader and knot the game at 2-2. For a brief moment, it felt like the offense might just have enough to overcome Buxton's absence.
The tie didn't last long. The Nationals, led by the dynamic CJ Abrams, proved to be a menace all afternoon. Abrams started the game with a 418-foot homer and didn't stop, stealing three bases and scoring three times. The game truly broke open in the fifth inning. Starter Cole Sands couldn't escape the frame, which saw the Nationals plate four runs, fueled by timely hits from Josh Bell and Alex Call. Sands' day ended after 4.1 innings, charged with four earned runs, as the Nationals built a lead the Twins' bats would never threaten.
As the dust settles on a disappointing series finale, all eyes turn to the trainer's room. The team needs Buxton back, but more importantly, they need him healthy for the stretch run. In the meantime, the rest of the lineup has to find a way to manufacture runs, and the starting pitching needs to deliver shutdown innings to take the pressure off. How the Twins navigate this next stretch could define their summer.
