Gavin Sheets records three hits, scores two runs to lead San Diego offense
An error by San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth unlocked a four-run fourth inning for the Minnesota Twins. The Padres overcome the deficit as the game progressed and they watched as the Twins added to their lead en route to a 7-4 win at Target Field, Friday.
The error by Cronenworth came with no outs and the bases loaded on what appeared to be a routine ground ball off the bat of Kody Clemens. The ball squirted past his glove and between his legs, into shallow right-center field. Two runs scored on the play and Minnesota pulled ahead of San Diego, 3-2.
The Twins still had runners at second and third with no outs and Padres reliever Wandy Peralta, who was thrust into the game after Nestor Cortes was ejected following a single and walk to start the inning, faced Trevor Larnach.
Larnach hit a ground ball back through the middle of the infield that got under the glove of Peralta and rolled between Cronenworth and Jose Iglesias into center field. The two base runners crossed the plate and pushed score to 5-2.
San Diego watched Minnesota add to its lead with a Royce Lewis solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to put the Twins up, 6-2. Minnesota scored the second run of the frame when Byron Buxton hit an RBI-single to left to take a 7-2 lead.
The Padres made some noise in the top of the seventh. They loaded the bases with no outs to start the inning. Will Wagner pinch-hit for Freddy Fermin and popped out for the first out. That brought Fernando Tatis Jr. to the plate and he delivered a two-run single to center field to cut the deficit to, 7-4.
San Diego looked to continue the rally and add to its run total with Luis Arraez at the plate. He hit a hard line drive to second base that was caught and Tatis Jr. was caught off first and was thrown out to end the inning.
The Padres were unable to muster any offense over the final two innings and saw their roadtrip record fall to 1-3.
San Diego takes on Minnesota, Saturday at 4:10 p.m.
Category: General Sports
