Padres Triumph Over Twins in Interleague Clash

SAN DIEGO (AP) — In a thrilling interleague matchup, the San Diego Padres secured a 5-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, showcasing their strong performance as playoff contenders. Jackson Merrill played a pivotal role, hitting a three-run double that helped propel the Padres to their impressive record of 21 wins in their last 26 games since July 20. Meanwhile, the Twins, who had won five of their last seven games, faced a setback as they ended their streak of eight consecutive games with a home run. Michael King delivered a solid performance on the mound for San Diego, pitching six effective innings, allowing only four hits, and striking out six batters. The Twins managed to score first in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Matt Wallner doubled in Trevor Larnach. However, the Padres quickly responded, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first, with Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts contributing to the team's early success. The game saw a turning point in the third inning when the score was tied at 2. An error by Minnesota's Matthews allowed Jurickson Profar to reach base, leading to Merrill's crucial double that cleared the bases. Despite a late rally from the Twins, the Padres held on to secure the win. In injury news, Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim underwent an MRI for a jammed right shoulder, with early indications suggesting mostly favorable results.