Byron Buxton's return can't lift Twins bats in 2-1 loss to Astros

La Velle E. Neal III, The Minnesota Star Tribune on May 19, 2026

Published in Baseball

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MINNEAPOLIS — With the Wolves, Wild and Frost eliminated from the postseason, local sports fans now need the Twins to hold their attention until Vikings training camp begins.

They provided plenty of water cooler talking points on Tuesday, demoting former first overall pick Royce Lewis to Class AAA St. Paul, placing Ryan Jeffers (hand surgery) on the injured list and designating right-hander Justin Topa for assignment.

Once game time arrived, the Twins ended up hitting transaction wire harder than they hit the ball in a 2-1 loss to Houston.

The Twins fielded a lineup that included a returning Byron Buxton (sore right side), but missed their middle of the order hitter in Jeffers and former prized prospect in Lewis. Victor Caratini was behind the plate and Tristan Gray started at third base.

This is what the near future looks like, Twins fans.

The Twins managed just three hits through the first five innings against right-hander Jason Alexander, who was making an emergency start in place of Lance McCullers Jr., who was placed on the injured list before the game. Despite entering the game having allowed 10 earned runs over 6 1/3 innings this season, the Twins struggled barreling Alexander up.

The Twins made a late push that got the announced crowd of 13,557 engaged. Orlando Arcia delivered a two-out single then moved to third when pinch-hitter Luke Keaschall was hit by a pitch, putting two on for Buxton.

Buxton, who already had two doubles in the game, ran the count full on a wild 2-2 pitch by Houston reliever Bryan Abreu that allowed the runners to advance a base. Abreu’s 3-2 breaking ball floated over the middle of the plate, but Buxton popped out in foul territory to end the game.

The Astros led 2-0 through two batters, when Jeremy Pena singled and Isaac Paredes followed with a blast into the seats in left. Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews shut down Houston for the next 18 outs, giving up just five hits with no walks and six strikeouts. That’s just two earned over 13 innings in two starts for Matthews since being called up from the Saints.

But, despite Buxton’s return, the Twins offense couldn’t get going. With Jeffers out, Kody Clemens batted cleanup while playing second. While he’s been more productive at the plate of late, he’s not a cleanup hitter.

Austin Martin batted fifth. Caratini, who stands to get more playing time with Jeffers out, batted seventh.

Twins manager Derek Shelton has good options for his fielders, as Arcia — called up on Tuesday — can play around the infield. Filling out a lineup card with be a daily challenge of figuring out where the best bats should be lined up.

Arcia made his Twins debut in the seventh inning when he struck out as a pinch hitter. He and his older brother, Oswaldo, are the eighth brother duos to play for the Twins-Senators, the first since Graig (1967-69) and Jim (1970-72) Nettles.