Buxton ‘more comfortable’ in 2nd stint with Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — When Byron Buxton was called up on Tuesday after a productive stint at Triple-A Rochester, he still carried his .156/.208/.289 batting line from his first 17 games of the season.

But Buxton has looked like a different player since his promotion, as he has a hit in all six games since rejoining the Twins, batting .435 (10-for-23) with a double and two triples over that span. Buxton had his best game yet in Sunday’s 7-5 loss to the Rays, as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI triple off the right-field wall. It helped him lift his season slash line to a more respectable .250/.278/.412 in 23 games.

“I’m a lot more comfortable,” Buxton said. “I’m having better at-bats. I’m just trying to help us any way I can and help us win. It’s tough, but we still have to go out there and grind it out.”

Buxton entered hitting .100 (6-for-60) off lefties in his career and struck out in all three previous at-bats against Drew Smyly last year. But this time, he had a hit in both at-bats against Smyly. He bunted for his first hit of the day, and later reached on a bloop single on an 0-2 count in the sixth.

“It’s good to …

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