Miranda matches record with hit in 12 consecutive at-bats

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins third baseman Jose Miranda matched an MLB record when he recorded a hit in 12 consecutive at-bats with his single off Hunter Brown in the fourth inning on Saturday in Minnesota’s 9-3 win over the Astros.

The only other hitters on record with hits in 12 consecutive at-bats are the Tigers' Walt Dropo (1952), the Red Sox's Pinky Higgins (1938) and the Cubs' Johnny Kling (1902).

“That was a long time ago,” Miranda said when informed of the exclusive club he joined. “I’m out of words. It’s something really special for the game and myself too. It’s great. It’s great to be a part of history.”

• These players got how many hits in a row?

It's the longest streak in the Expansion Era (since 1961). Dustin Pedroia (2016) of the Red Sox and Bernie Williams (2002) of the Yankees both got hits in 11 straight at-bats.

The hit also made it 13 consecutive plate appearances where Miranda reached base. He was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance Saturday before adding his two singles.

“With my work before the games, I’ve been feeling good,” Miranda said. “When I’m going out there, like I said before, I’m trying to get a good pitch. When I have a good rhythm and balance, I feel pretty good. I feel pretty comfortable too at the plate. It’s good to feel like that.”

The streak almost reached 13 straight hits, as Miranda lined a pitch that landed just foul down the right-field line in the sixth. Brown finally retired Miranda on a flyout to left field. Twins fans gave Miranda a standing ovation on his way back to the dugout and another when he reached his position before the seventh inning.

“We were able to put our hands together for him a little bit inside,” manager Rocco Baldelli said after the game. “I think the guys really enjoyed being able to celebrate quite the run. It’s very special.”

One of those teammates was Brooks Lee, whose first Major League homer was somewhat overshadowed in the celebration of Miranda’s history-making feat.

“I’m not surprised. I’ve been with [Miranda] for, this is my second year now, and every time I’ve played with him, he just rakes,” Lee said. “He rakes in live at-bats, he rakes in spring, he rakes during the season. It’s just what he does.”

“I mean, there’s no real words,” Baldelli added. “You’ve just got to kind of stop talking and enjoy it. Never seen something like that go on, on a field, over the course of a few days, ever, anywhere. No one has, actually. At least no one on our team, in our clubhouse.”