16 pitches! Margot works longest plate appearance of season
ARLINGTON -- The Twins-Rangers game on Friday night started with the longest plate appearance in the Majors this season.
Twins outfielder Manuel Margot had a 16-pitch battle against Rangers starter Andrew Heaney, which ultimately ended with Margot flying out to left field. Margot's at-bat surpassed the Phillies' Nick Castellanos' 15-pitch plate appearance on Aug. 4 for the longest of the season.
It is the longest leadoff plate appearance since the Brewers’ Pat Listach’s 17-pitch walk to lead off the bottom of the first inning on Sept. 26, 1992, and the second-longest leadoff plate appearance since pitch counts began being tracked in 1988.
Margot fouled off 11 pitches in the plate appearance, including eight consecutive before flying out. Heaney threw 13 fastballs, two sliders and one changeup. Heaney retired the next two batters -- Carlos Santana and Max Kepler -- with one-pitch at-bats.
The Twins and Rangers were playing the second game of a four-game series. Minnesota won the opener, 3-2, on Thursday night at Globe Life Field.