Buxton snaps out of slump in big way

When Byron Buxton needs to break out of a slump, he just dials up the No. 3.

The Twins' top prospect collected three hits and drove in a pair of runs Saturday night as Double-A Chattanooga held on for a 10-9 triumph over visiting Montgomery.

Buxton, who also scored twice, finished a home run short of the cycle. He also stole his 10th base in his ninth multi-hit game of the season.

The 21-year-old outfielder entered Saturday in the midst of a 1-for-21 slump that saw his batting average drop from .270 on May 11 to .235. His six total bases represented the most he's recorded since May 2, when he racked up eight.

Buxton's RBI triple in the sixth inning was his Minor League-leading seventh and extended the Lookouts' lead to 8-5. The 2012 first-round pick already is thinking about three bases the minute he puts the bat on the ball, helping him amass 31 triples in 239 Minor League games.

"Out of the box, I always think triples," he told MiLB.com on May 2. "So I try to get out of the box as fast as I can and get around first so I can see where the ball is at. I just take my reads from there."

MLB.com's top overall prospect owns a .248/.306/.461 slash line in 35 Southern League games.

Travis Harrison doubled twice and drove five runs, while Twins' No. 2 prospect Miguel Sano followed up a two-homer performance by scoring three times for the Lookouts.

Chattanooga starter Alex Wimmers improved to 2-0, despite giving up five runs on five hits with nine strikeouts over five innings. Jake Reed allowed a run on two hits in the ninth but recorded his first Southern League save.

Rays No. 16 prospect Boog Powell was 2-for-5 with two RBIs for the Biscuits.