Twins Defeat Padres 7-4 Amid Padres' Four Losses in Five Games

The San Diego Padres suffered a 7-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins in the opening game of their weekend series, marked by a costly error from second baseman Jake Cronenworth that led to a four-run inning for the Twins. Padres starter Nestor Cortes struggled and was ejected early in the fourth inning, with the bullpen unable to contain Minnesota's offense, which included key hits from Trevor Larnach, Byron Buxton, and Royce Lewis. Despite a late rally sparked by Fernando Tatis Jr.'s two-run single in the seventh inning, the Padres could not overcome the deficit and fell to their fourth loss in five games. The defeat highlights the Padres' ongoing struggles against weaker opponents, as their schedule features primarily teams with losing records, with playoff positioning still precarious. San Diego currently holds the second Wild Card spot but trails the Dodgers in the NL West, underscoring the urgency to improve performance against lower-ranked teams. The series continues with the Padres aiming to rebound as they face the Twins again at Target Field.