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See the full story · 3 sourcesKody Clemens walk-off grand slam helps Twins create MLB history originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Kody Clemens continues to give the Minnesota Twins an unexpected lift.
The son of an MLB icon, Clemens was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in April 25 for cash considerations. The depth transaction last season has developed into a history-making move. One that is keeping the Twins in the AL Wild Card chase, despite star Byron Buxton's injury.
On Thursday, Clemens connected on the MLB's 34th ultimate grand slam , leading the Twins to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Clemens capped an effort in which the Twins didn't record a hit until the seventh inning and won a walk-off grand slam. They became the third team to rally from a three-run, two-out, no-one-on-base, final-inning deficit.
Since becoming a middle-of-the-order solution for the Twins this season, Clemens described his simple approach.
"Trying to get good swings off, that's really all I'm trying to do," Clemens told MLB Network .
That approach worked against Royals reliever Matt Strahm (3-4) on Thursday.
Will Clemens turn the Twins into buyers before Monday's MLB trade deadline?
Twins' Kody Clemens connecting with history
With Buxton (hip) on the 10-day injured list, most league insiders started burying the Twins' chances at continuing their postseason run. Clemens, a 30-year-old career journeyman, is emerging as a middle-of-the-order threat, matching his career high with 19 homers and a career-best .244 batting average and 53 RBI.
In the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday, Royals reliever Lucas Erceg yielded three straight base runners. Strahm entered to face Clemens and delivered two immediate strikes. Clemens connected on a low 82-mph slider. It was the second ultimate grand slam this season after San Francisco Giants' Bryce Eldridge accomplished the feat June 10.
MORE: Ex-MLB GM reveals Twins trade deadline plan with All-Star SP and OF
With Royals starter Noah Cameron allowing just one hit in eight innings, the Twins became the first team in MLB history to break up a no-hit bid in the seventh inning or later and end that game with a walk-off grand slam.
Clemens also became the third player in MLB history to hit a game-winning slam for a team that entered the frame trailing by three after having two outs and the bases cleared, joining Brian Giles (July 28, 2001) and Ryan Roberts (Sept. 27, 2011).
Entering the start of Friday's series at the Seattle Mariners , the Twins (55-55), without Buxton, were one game behind the AL Central-rival Cleveland Guardians by one game in the wild card race.
Last season's low-key Clemens acquisition may not have trended significantly on social media at the time. The emerging power threat will likely attract additional digital attention if the Twins evolve from sellers to buyers at the deadline.
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