Buxton hits grand slam in 10-run inning, Twins rout Diamondbacks 16-8

PHOENIX (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a grand slam in a 10-run fifth inning and the Minnesota Twins clobbered the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-8 on Saturday night.

Buxton has 24 homers to tie Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead. He has three career grand slams.

The Nos. 6-9 batters combined for 13 of the Twins' 20 hits, with Brooks Lee having four and missing a cycle by a home run. Victor Caratini, Luke Keaschall and Ryan Kreider each had three hits.

The Twins had 16 hits in the fourth and fifth innings when they sent a combined 24 batters to the plate.

Minnesota started the fifth with three hits to chase Zac Gallen (3-6), who was charged with nine runs and 12 hits — both career highs — in four-plus innings to raise his ERA to 6.10.

Buxton’s home run, to right-center, came off Yilber Díaz, who gave up seven hits and seven runs. He threw 44 pitches and recorded two outs. Philip Abner relieved and got the final out of the inning.

Taj Bradley (6-3) went five innings, giving up three hits and two runs — both on Jorge Barrosa’s second homer of the season. The Twins have won five of their last six games.

Ildemaro Vargas’ three-run double was the big hit in the Diamondbacks’ five-run seventh against reliever Justin Lawrence.

Vargas, who entered mid-game for defense as both teams went to the benches, eventually finished the game on the mound for Arizona, pitching 1 2/3 hitless innings.

Minnesota's Mike Paredes (0-0, 4.20) was set to face Arizona's José Cabrera, making his MLB debut, in the series finale Sunday.

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Jorge Barrosa (1) celebrates his two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley works against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Brooks Lee, center, gets high fives from teammates after scoring a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton (25) celebrates after hitting a grand slam with teammates Josh Bell (56) and Ryan Kreidler (5) in the fifth inning of a baseball game against Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton, right, hits a grand slam in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

PHOENIX (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a grand slam for his 24th home run of the season in the Minnesota Twins' 10-run fifth inning against Arizona on Saturday night in a 16-8 victory.

Buxton tied Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the American League homer lead and made the score 12-0. It was the center fielder’s third career grand slam.

The Twins already led 6-0 after batting around and scoring four runs in the fourth. They topped that in the fifth, sending 14 men to the plate. Brooks Lee, Victor Caratini, Luke Keaschall and Ryan Kriedler each had two hits in the inning, with Kriedler’s triple driving in the final two runs to make it 16-0.

Zac Gallen started for Arizona but left after giving up the first three hits of the inning. He was charged with nine runs and 12 hits in four-plus innings, both career highs.

“We came out, we just continued to put pressure on," Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean, the (fourth) inning, we put the ball in play. We didn’t hit a lot of balls hard to start it, and we found some holes, and then we just continued to build on it. Really proud of our group for doing that.”

Lee started the fifth with a triple, added a double later, has four hits for the game and finished 4 for 6, a home run short of a cycle.

“I just felt like once Gallen came out, we still had our foot on the pedal,” Lee said. “It was awesome.”

As for the would-be cycle, Diamondbacks position player Ildemaro Vargas was pitching in the ninth and retired Lee on a popup to short.

“I thought to myself, like, `If it doesn’t happen, doesn’t happen. But I’m going to swing hard,” Lee said.

Yilber Díaz relieved Gallen and gave up seven hits, including Buxton’s home run, and seven runs. He threw 44 pitches and recorded two outs. Philip Abner relieved and got the final out of the inning.

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen looks at his line up card against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton looks skyward after hitting a grand slam against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton, right, hits a grand slam in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton (25) celebrates after hitting a grand slam with teammates Josh Bell (56) and Ryan Kreidler (5) in the fifth inning of a baseball game against Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)