Star center fielder Byron Buxton collected his 100th career stolen base in the sixth inning, joining former All-Star outfielders Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter as the only players ever to notch 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases with the Twins, and Brock Stewart gave up a big home run as the Cleveland Guardians beat Minnesota 4-2 Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
The Twins' record dropped to 13-18, while Cleveland's improved to 17-13.
Byron Buxton joins elite company with impressive milestone in Twins’ 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians
Buxton has 139 career home runs along with his 100 stolen bases, Puckett had 207 homers and 134 stolen bases, and Hunter had 214 homers and 128 stolen bases. If Buxton, who leads MLB history in stolen base percentage (minimum 100 steals) at 89.3%, can have a few more good healthy years for Minnesota, he could easily pass Puckett and Hunter in both categories.
Highest stolen base percentage in MLB history (minimum 100 steals):
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 30, 2025
89.3% — Byron Buxton
88.7% — Kyle Tucker
87.5% — Chase Utley
87.0% — Andrés Giménez
86.4% — Carlos Beltrán
Buxton, who has seven stolen bases this year, has been on a tear lately, hitting .295/.308/.590 with four home runs, 11 RBI and four stolen bases over the Twins’ past 15 games. Additionally, the Twins’ center fielder has stayed healthy enough to provide his elite defense nearly every game this year.
Brock Stewart allows big home run to Bo Naylor
Both competing starting pitchers threw gems Wednesday. Guardians righty Luis L. Ortiz threw 6 ⅓ scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out five. Twins right-handed starter Pablo López pitched on the same level, pitching six scoreless innings before he allowed a line drive single to José Ramírez, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. made a spectacular diving catch near the left field line, and Carlos Santana hit a weak infield single that turned into a throwing error for López, who allowed four hits and struck out six batters Wednesday, and a run for Cleveland. Then entered Brock Stewart.
Stewart, who had yet to allow an earned run this season before Wednesday, struggled with command against Cleveland, walking the first batter he faced, Gabriel Arias, on six pitches. He then struck out Daniel Schneemann swinging on a full count before giving up a game-deciding, three-run home run to catcher Bo Naylor on a fastball in the middle of the zone.
Bo Naylor takes off and extends the @CleGuardians lead. pic.twitter.com/nzlqnlpU1v
— MLB (@MLB) May 1, 2025
Brooks Lee hit a home run and walked once, and Trevor Larnach went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a walk while the Twins had six total hits.
Brooks Lee gets the Twins on the board pic.twitter.com/dnWYKouKV4
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 1, 2025
Danny Coulombe pitched another scoreless inning of relief with three strikeouts. He has yet to allow a run this season.
Ramírez went 2-for-4 as the Guardians collected five hits.
After Ortiz exited the game with one out in the seventh inning, three Guardians relievers, Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase, combined for eight strikeouts while allowing two earned runs and three hits to end the contest.
Twins set to play final game of series with Guardians
After a dominant 11-1 victory followed by back-to-back losses, the Twins will aim to even up the series with the Guardians as Game 4 is scheduled to commence at 12:10 p.m. CST on Thursday at Progressive Field. The probable starters are Twins righty Simeon Woods Richardson and Guardians righty Ben Lively.