Padres rally past Twins 7-5

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jake Cronenworth raced home with the tying run on an error and Ty France singled in the go-ahead run during a four-run rally in the seventh inning that gave the San Diego Padres a 7-5 win against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

The Padres remained in the National League’s third wild-card spot after winning for the 10th time in 13 games and for the 20th time in 27. They’ll go for a three-game sweep on Sunday against the Twins, who remain in a bunch just outside of the AL’s third wild card.

The Padres’ rally against Andrew Morris (4-5) started when Freddy Fermin reached on catcher’s interference with one out, followed by Fernando Tatis Jr.’s single. Cronenworth hit an opposite-field double into the left-field corner to bring them both in to pull the Padres to 5-4.

Manny Machado hit a grounder to shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, who threw to third trying to get Cronenworth, but Brooks Lee missed it for an error. Cronenworth got up and headed home, sliding in headfirst with the tying run.

France hit an opposite-field single to right to bring in Machado for the go-ahead run.

Merrill's milestone night

Jackson Merrill hit his 20th home run of the season with one out in the second inning off Dean Kremer, a solo shot that put the Padres on the board. He added an RBI single in the sixth inning. According to NBC Sports, Merrill's homer was hit 431 feet to center field, and he now has homered in three straight games, with nine home runs in 22 games since July 19.

The outlet noted Merrill was 0-for-13 in his previous three games before his performance Saturday. His slash line improved to .241/.292/.412, though he has been considerably better over the last two months, forging an OPS above .800 in both July and August. Merrill also stole his 20th base of the season.

NBC Sports framed Merrill's night through a fantasy lens, noting his first two-homer game in 372 days came in a 19-2 game, with the second homer off utilityman Tyler Tolbert. The outlet described the achievement as "a rather cheap way" to reach that milestone, while emphasizing his recent resurgence.

Mize injured, Canning effective in relief

Padres right-hander Casey Mize allowed three solo homers before leaving with two outs in the third with a sprained right ankle. He slipped heading down the dugout steps after the top of the second. Luke Keaschall hit Mize’s fourth pitch into the seats in left, his eighth of the season. It was the first time Mize allowed a leadoff homer. Brooks Lee and Kaelen Culpepper hit consecutive shots in the second—Lee's 19th and Culpepper's second.

Griffin Canning (4-9) got the win, going 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief after Mize exited. According to NBC Sports, Canning kept the Twins off the board and recorded a single strikeout with four swings-and-misses. Mason Miller pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.

Twins' perspective and upcoming series finale

Despite the loss, Brooks Lee had a strong game, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a double. The Twins remain in the AL wild-card hunt but sit just outside the third spot.

Dean Kremer, who started for the Twins, limited the Padres to two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings but received a no-decision. According to NBC Sports, Kremer's fastball averaged 92.1 mph, slightly down from his usual 93.

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday, with Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (7-4, 4.62 ERA) facing Padres right-hander Walker Buehler (7-6, 4.79).