Byron Buxton and Harrison Bader homered, but the Twins fell to the Reds 6-5 on June 18. Read how Cincinnati's late rally spoiled a highlight-reel night.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game of tantalizing highs and gut-wrenching lows. For a fleeting moment in the sixth inning, it felt like the Twins had stolen one, but a late Cincinnati rally sent Minnesota back to .500 with a frustrating 6-5 loss, spoiling a night of highlight-reel plays and powerful home runs.
Byron Buxton robbed a homer, hit a homer, and Harrison Bader launched a go-ahead three-run blast. It was almost enough. Almost.
The sixth inning was pure baseball drama. Trailing 4-2, the Twins capitalized on a costly throwing error by Reds third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand to keep the inning alive. Harrison Bader made them pay, launching a towering three-run homer that caromed over the wall off Jake Fraley's glove, electrifying the Twins' dugout and giving them a 5-4 lead. But the joy was short-lived. In the bottom half, the Reds answered immediately, as TJ Friedl laced a two-out, two-run double off reliever Brock Stewart, snatching the lead right back and sealing the Twins' fate.
While the result stings, you can't talk about this game without celebrating Byron Buxton's incredible performance. In the second inning, he made a spectacular leaping catch at the center field wall, robbing Will Benson of what looked like a sure home run. He wasn't done. In the third, he opened the scoring by launching a solo shot of his own. It was a vintage Buxton display, showcasing the game-changing talent that makes him one of the most exciting players in baseball, even in a loss.
The 'what if' of the night centers on rookie starter David Festa. The right-hander was cruising, holding the Reds hitless through the first three innings. But his night ended abruptly in the fourth after suffering a right hand contusion. He was charged with four runs (only two earned) in 3.2 innings, but the injury is the bigger concern. His status for his next start is now up in the air, a tough blow for a young pitcher just finding his footing.
Festa's injury puts the spotlight back on the Twins' organizational depth, which is already being stretched thin. With Zebby Matthews having recently graduated to the big-league rotation, the farm system has been crucial. However, top prospects like Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Luke Keaschall are all currently on the injured list, limiting the immediate call-up options. The team will be leaning heavily on its current arms to navigate this latest challenge.
Dropping back to 36-36 is a tough pill to swallow, especially in a game that felt winnable. The focus now shifts to salvaging the series. The good news is that Bailey Ober is scheduled to take the mound tomorrow, and the Twins will need a strong outing from their reliable righty to stop the bleeding and get back in the win column. It's time to shake this one off and come out swinging.
