Minnesota Twins All-Star Byron Buxton exited Wednesday's game with a left hand contusion after being hit by a pitch from Chicago Cubs starter Cade Horton. The Twins won the game 4-2.
Buxton led off the bottom of the first inning when he was hit, although the play was initially ruled a foul ball. Minnesota challenged the call and it was overturned after video review showed the ball hitting a pad on the top of Buxton's hand.
After being looked at by a team trainer, Buxton stayed in the game and eventually scored on a hit by Ryan Jeffers. But Brooks Lee pinch hit for Buxton in the second inning.
"Buck coming out of the game is not what you're looking for," Manager Rocco Baldelli said after the game. He looks like he's gonna be OK. He had some imaging done and it came back all right. So, he was, he was pretty sore though. We'll see."
Buxton was named to his second All-Star team and was also selected for the Home Run Derby. The 31-year-old Buxton has 20 home runs through 75 games this year, tied for sixth in the American League.
Injuries have been an issue for Buxton throughout his career. He has played in more than 100 games just twice since he debuted with the Twins in 2015.
Jeffers and Carlos Correa each had an RBI as the Minnesota Twins scored a pair of first-inning runs for the second straight game over the Cubs.
Matt Wallner added a solo homer for the Twins in the third, which proved to be enough for right-hander David Festa (3-3), who went 5 1/3 innings and allowed a pair of runs in the fourth inning.
Minnesota’s bullpen tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Closer Jhoan Duran, who was unavailable Tuesday due to illness, earned his 14th save of the season.
"Yeah, it does feel good, we played a really good ball game," says Baldelli. "There's a lot that we could talk about. The pitching, it starts there. David Festa, he had a nice day out there. You know, he threw 5 and 1/3 and 4 of those innings, he was like as crisp as can be. He looked great."
It was also announced Wednesday night that Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan was named as an injury replacement for next week's All-Star Game. Ryan will take the place of Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown.
Ryan joins Buxton on the American League roster. It is his first career All-Star selection. The MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday night in Atlanta.
It'll be a big Friday night for Ryan as well. The Twins ace will face the Pittsburgh Pirates' ace, Paul Skenes, also an All-Star and the reigning NL Rookie of the Year. Skenes is 4-7 but has a sparkling 1.95 earned run average. Ryan is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA making it one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the year at Target Field.
Both were expected to start Saturday's game but were moved up in the rotation so they'd be available to pitch in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Friday's game also features a postgame concert from hip-hop star Nelly.
But before that, the Twins and Cubs wrap up their three-game set Thursday afternoon at Target Field with the Twins looking for a sweep before the Pirates come to Target Field for three before the All-Star break.