Byron Buxton Injury Update After Exiting Twins' Walk-Off Win Over Royals

Byron Buxton left Tuesday's game at Target Field in the fifth inning with right hip soreness after running to first base, and it is the same joint that kept him out of the All-Star Game this month.

The Twins went on to win anyway, pulling out a 3-2 decision over the Royals when Royce Lewis tripled home two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Taj Bradley gave the Twins six innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing two runs on three hits, and his season now sits at 9-4 with a 3.65 ERA.

Kody Clemens doubled in the fourth and scored on a Josh Bell single, Kansas City went ahead 2-1 in the sixth when Josh Rojas stole home on a double steal and Salvador Perez added an RBI single, and the score held there into the ninth.

Victor Caratini opened the last frame with a single off Alex Lange, Brooks Lee walked with one out, and after a strikeout Lewis lifted a sharp fly ball to right that landed for a triple and scored both runners.

Jack Anderson picked up his first career win with a scoreless ninth.

Buxton was 0-for-2 before Luke Keaschall replaced him in center.

Reporting from NBC Sports, citing Betsy Helfand, says Buxton will undergo further evaluation that could include an MRI, with an update expected before Wednesday's game.

That update came, and Buxton will be hitting the IL.

The concern is familiar, because an MRI in late June showed a right hip impingement that had him listed as day to day then, and the same hip cost him the All-Star Game.

He has hit .263 with 25 home runs and 45 RBIs across 82 games this season, production the lineup cannot replace from within.

This team wins close games the hard way, and the margin gets very thin the moment the middle of the order goes missing for any stretch.

Minnesota sits at 54-54, third in the AL Central and two games behind the first-place White Sox, and the front office has to weigh additions before Monday's deadline with its best outfielder suddenly uncertain.

The club activated Buxton from the injured list barely more than a week ago, and any plan for the second half of his season starts with keeping him on the field.

Whatever moves the front office makes over the next few days will only pay off if the best version of this roster is actually available in August and September.

The series with Kansas City wraps Wednesday, with Joe Ryan and his 3.38 ERA facing Randy Dobnak.