BOSTON — Byron Buxton appeared in his 500th game with the Twins on Friday. Perhaps out of habit, the Twins fear it might be awhile before he plays his 501st.
Buxton suffered a leg injury while sliding into second base during the first inning of the Twins' 8-4 victory over the Red Sox, slapped the ground in frustration and immediately walked off the field and into the clubhouse. Buxton was experiencing soreness in his right knee, the Twins announced, but was walking around the clubhouse during the game, a hopeful sign. He left Fenway Park to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test at a nearby hospital and did not return.
"Obviously, he was feeling some real discomfort. He plays through a lot. He's a tough guy and he always wants to be on the field," said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who had not heard the results of the MRI or any further prognosis. "In this instance, he knew it was not going to be something he was going to play [through] today."
