Padres Survive Twins’ Rally in 7-5 Thriller
Padres Rally Past Twins 7-5 in Wild Seventh-Inning Comeback
The Big Picture
Imagine you’re playing a game where you’re behind by two runs with only three innings left. That’s exactly where the San Diego Padres found themselves on Saturday night against the Minnesota Twins. But baseball is full of surprises, and the Padres put on a show in the seventh inning—scoring four runs to flip a 5-3 deficit into a 7-5 victory.
Key Takeaway: The Padres have now won 10 of their last 13 games and 20 of their last 27, keeping them firmly in the National League’s third wild-card spot (a playoff position for teams that don’t win their division but have one of the best remaining records).
How It Happened: The Wild Seventh Inning
The seventh inning was pure chaos—in a good way for San Diego. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
- Catcher’s Interference — With one out, Padres catcher Freddy Fermín reached base because the Twins’ catcher got in the way of his swing. Think of it like a "free pass" to first base.
- Tatis Singles — Superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a single, putting runners on first and second.
- Cronenworth’s Double — Jake Cronenworth smashed a double down the left-field line, scoring both runners to make it 5-4.
- The Error That Changed Everything — Manny Machado hit a grounder to shortstop Kaelen Culpepper. He threw to third base trying to get Cronenworth, but third baseman Brooks Lee couldn’t handle the throw. Error! Cronenworth scrambled up and sprinted home, sliding headfirst for the tying run (5-5).
- France Delivers the Knockout — Ty France followed with an opposite-field single to right field, bringing Machado home for the go-ahead run (6-5).
- Insurance Run — The Padres added one more run before the inning ended, making it 7-5.
Pitching Plot Twists
Padres Starter Casey Mize: Tough Start, Early Exit
- What happened: Mize gave up three solo home runs in the first two innings.
- The twist: He sprained his right ankle slipping on the dugout steps after the second inning and had to leave the game with two outs in the third.
- The homers allowed:
- Luke Keaschall (8th HR) — leadoff first inning
- Brooks Lee (19th HR) — second inning
- Kaelen Culpepper (2nd HR) — back-to-back with Lee
Important: Losing your starter that early usually dooms a team. The Padres’ bullpen (relief pitchers) had to cover 6+ innings—and they did the job.
Who Got the Win and Save?
| Pitcher | Role | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Griffin Canning (4-9) | Relief | Win — pitched effectively in middle innings |
| Mason Miller | Closer | 32nd Save — shut the door in the 9th inning |
Offensive Highlights for San Diego
| Player | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Jackson Merrill | 20th home run (solo, 2nd inning) + RBI single (6th inning) |
| Jake Cronenworth | Go-ahead double + scored tying run on error |
| Ty France | Go-ahead RBI single in 7th |
| Manny Machado | Reached on grounder that caused error, scored go-ahead run |
| Freddy Fermín | Started rally with catcher’s interference |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | Key single to keep rally alive |
What’s at Stake: Playoff Picture
| Team | League | Wild Card Status |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Padres | National League | Holding 3rd wild-card spot |
| Minnesota Twins | American League | Just outside 3rd wild card — in a tight cluster of teams |
Every game matters now. The Padres will go for a three-game sweep on Sunday.
Up Next: Series Finale
Sunday
Twins RHP Bailey Ober (7-4, 4.62 ERA) vs. Padres RHP Walker Buehler (7-6, 4.79 ERA)
Note: ERA = Earned Run Average. Lower is better. It measures how many runs a pitcher allows per 9 innings. Both pitchers have ERAs in the mid-4s, so expect offense.
Summary
- Final Score: Padres 7, Twins 5
- Turning Point: 4-run 7th inning sparked by catcher’s interference, capped by error and go-ahead single
- Padres Starter: Casey Mize exited early (3 HRs allowed, sprained ankle)
- Bullpen Heroes: Griffin Canning (win), Mason Miller (32nd save)
- Playoff Implications: Padres strengthen wild-card grip; Twins fall further back
- Next Game: Sunday — Ober vs. Buehler, sweep on the line
FAQ
What is a "wild card" in baseball?
A wild card is a playoff spot given to the best teams that didn’t win their division. Each league (American and National) has three wild-card teams. The Padres currently hold the third and final NL wild-card spot.
What is "catcher’s interference"?
It’s when the catcher physically gets in the way of the batter’s swing. The batter is automatically awarded first base, and any runners forced to advance move up one base. It’s rare but huge when it happens!
What does "save" mean for a pitcher?
A save goes to a relief pitcher (usually the closer) who finishes a game for the winning team under specific conditions: entering with a lead of 3 runs or fewer, or the tying run on base/at bat/on deck. Mason Miller now has 32 saves this season—that’s elite.
Why did Casey Mize leave the game if he wasn’t hit by a pitch?
He slipped on the dugout steps after the second inning and sprained his right ankle. It had nothing to do with the batters—just a freak accident walking off the field.
What does "opposite-field" mean?
When a right-handed batter hits the ball to right field (or a lefty to left field), instead of pulling it to their natural side. It’s a sign of good bat control and often produces hits. Both Cronenworth and France went opposite-field in the rally.
Enjoy the game Sunday! Go Padres!