ARLINGTON, Texas - Byron Buxton sat in the dugout about an hour before making his major league debut and identified speed as his greatest baseball attribute.
He quickly got to show it off, too.
Despite going 0 for 4, Buxton streaked home with the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 Sunday to end their losing streak at five games.
"It's a day I'll cherish forever," Buxton said, "especially making my debut and getting the winning run across."
Minnesota Twins left fielder Shane Robinson, left, jumps along with Byron Buxton, middle rear, and Shane Robinson, right, following their 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers in a baseball game, Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Regarded by many as the top prospect in baseball, the 21-year-old Buxton joined the Twins from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. He batted ninth and played center on Sunday, filling out a depleted Minnesota outfield.
Eduardo Escobar opened the Twins' half of the ninth with a double. Buxton, picked No. 2 in the 2012 draft, tried to sacrifice but bunted back to Shawn Tolleson (1-1), who threw out Escobar at third base.
Buxton said he hadn't sacrificed in a while - his last one came in 2013 in the Class A Midwest League.
With two outs, Eddie Rosario doubled to center and Buxton scored without a play.
Twins manager Paul Molitor said the threat of Buxton stealing second - he has 20 steals in 59 games this season for the Lookouts - could have contributed to Rosario's success against Tolleson.
"Sometimes, that can lead to a mistake," Molitor said.
Buxton had scored a Southern League-high 44 runs when he was called up this weekend and his 12 triples lead all minor league baseball players this season.
"He's got a beautiful stride. He runs like not too many people we've seen in this game," Molitor said.
The Twins were missing outfielders Torii Hunter, who was serving his suspension for a uniform-tossing tirade, and injured Aaron Hicks.
Casey Fien (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings and Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth for his American League-leading 22nd save.
The Twins' Brian Dozier opened the game with a home run, his 10th career leadoff shot and third this season. Dozier also doubled to increase his league-leading total of extra-base hits to 36.
Nine of Minnesota's 11 hits were for extra bases, and although none of them were by Buxton, the Twins matched a club record by hitting four triples, previously done in 1964. Three of them came in the sixth inning, yet they scored only one run in the inning - in part because Shane Robinson was picked off third base when Escobar missed a squeeze sign.
According to information provided to the Rangers by the Elias Sports Bureau, that's the only time in the past 50 years a team hit three triples in an inning and scored fewer than two runs.
Minnesota Twins right fielder Eddie Rosario, right, and center fielder Byron Buxton, left, scramble for the double hit by Texas Rangers' Hanser Alberto during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)