Twins 7, Padres 2: Ryan Dominant, Buxton Hits His 29th Homer To Seal Series Win

[Hans Birkeland]

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Box Score:
Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (104 Pitches, 75 Pitches, 72.1%)
Home Runs: Byron Buxton (29)
Top 3 WPA: Ryan (.276), Buxton (.180), James Outman (.050)
Win Probability Chart (Via FanGraphs):

As their listless, depressing season enters its final month, the Twins have given a surprising amount of fight to the division-leading Blue Jays and (now) the recently NL West-leading Padres. And, in a sentence I haven't been writing much lately, the Twins had the advantage on paper, with Joe Ryan taking the mound at home against a Padres team without the IL-bound Xander Bogaerts, running a bullpen game.

The Twins went quietly in the first two innings against right-handed reliever David Morgan, but the Padres turned to lefty Kyle Hart to start the third. Austin Martin drew a one-out walk (his OBP is up to .363, in case you weren't paying attention), and Byron Buxton pulverized a 2-2 change-up on the outside edge for his career-high 29th home run.

Ryan looked back to his old self after a few uncharacteristically rough outings, relying mainly on his fastball but keeping hitters honest with his offspeed stuff. He ran into a bit of trouble in the fourth following an error by Royce Lewis that allowed leadoff batter Manny Machado to reach. Ryan O'Hearn followed with a single, and you started to wonder if history was repeating itself. But Ryan rebounded to strike out Ramón Laureano (who has 22 homers and a .900 OPS?) and Gavin Sheets, before getting Jake Cronenworth to pop out weakly to end the threat.

The Twins even decided to add on! After working ahead of Luke Keaschall 0-2, Hart plunked the Twins second baseman. Ryan Jeffers then worked a tough one-out walk against stud reliever Jeremiah Estrada, before James Outman lined a single into the gap to extend the lead to 3-0. Ryan worked a nine-pitch fifth inning, setting the Twins up to feast against new reliever Wandy Peralta in the bottom of the frame.

Peralta's first pitch was driven to the right-center gap by Buxton, and only a fine play by Fernando Tatis Jr. prevented it from becoming a triple. Keaschall singled to bring home Buxton, Kody Clemens produced a sacrifice fly, and Royce Lewis singled up the middle to take the lead to six.

Ryan walked Machado in the sixth and allowed a two-out hit to Laureano to put runners on the corners for Sheets, but the resurgent former White Sox flied out harmlessly to left to end the inning.

He hung a breaking ball to Cronenworth to begin the seventh, and Cronenworth advanced to second on a grounder. Ryan was upset at a couple of borderline ball calls to Freddy Fermin before striking him out on a high fastball at 96 MPH. He battled Tatis, and eventually struck him out on 96 down the middle to complete his seven scoreless innings.

Michael Tonkin took over for the eighth and worked a clean inning, but began the ninth by allowing a single to Sheets, hit Mason McCoy with a pitch and fell behind 3-0 to José Iglesias. Tonkin battled back against Iglesias to induce a grounder to Lewis at third, who stepped on the bag and fired to first for a nice double play. Fermin then doubled in McCoy to break the shutout. Another run would score before Tonkin finally sealed the game via flyout by Arraez, on his 37th pitch.

Stray Observations:
-I feel like so much is made of Martin's poor defense at every position he plays that we forget what he actually contributes offensively. He had a few good moments last year and kept his head above water, with a 90 OPS+. His slash line for 2025 now sits at .271/.363/.371. For all those clamoring for Luis Arraez to return, the Padres' first baseman sports a .282/.316/.386 line, for comparison. Martin can contribute on the base paths, too. It would be a weird DH profile, but this figures to be a weird team no matter what happens this offseason.

-Today's game was broadcast on Roku, who curiously pair one team's color commentator with the other team's play-by-play analyst. It's pretty interesting to have someone calling the game who is plugged into the inner workings of the opponent, and having Cory Provus diplomatically explain the Twins to an innocent bystander is a pretty fun watch. The Twins seem to play on Roku a lot.

What’s Next: The Twins welcome the White Sox to town for four games beginning Monday. Bailey Ober (4-7, 5.14 ERA) starts for the home nine, while Chicago will scrounge up someone from the minors after losing would-be starter Aaron Civale on waivers earlier Sunday. First pitch is at 1:10 PM CT.

Postgame Interviews:

Coming soon
Bullpen Usage Chart:

	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN	TOT
Abel	0	0	0	59	0	59
Tonkin	15	0	0	0	37	52
Kriske	0	0	0	44	0	44
Cabrera	11	0	0	31	0	42
Funderburk	18	0	23	0	0	41
Sands	17	0	17	0	0	34
Hatch	26	0	0	0	0	26
Topa	0	0	24	0	0	24

 

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[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Hans Birkeland said:

Michael Tonkin took over for the eighth and worked a clean inning

Issuing a walk now qualifies as a clean inning?

[Doctor Gast]

The strategy of many teams against the Twins is to throw LHPs against them. Today Twins scored all their runs against LHPs. Good game, against a very good team but I'd rather have them win their series against a weaker struggling NYY & keep them struggling than their series win against SD, who's battling LAD.

[mnfireman]

Byron Buxton, what could have been. This years stats through 103 games project out to 46 HR, 110 RBI, and 33 SB over 162 games. The team's last 10 years may have been a lot different if he was able to stay healthy and contribute like this every season. But, alas, reality is what it is, and this is what we are left with, meaningless late season games and the Big Fire Sale of Summer '25.

[Hans Birkeland]

41 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Issuing a walk now qualifies as a clean inning?

for this bullpen yea

[mikelink45]

Does anyone believe in Tonkin or anyone in the BP?  Nice game Ryan - we need you.

With the draft ahead it is hard to know whether to root for a win or a loss.

I would keep Wallner in the bottom half of the lineup.  

[jorgenswest]

Enjoyed the game. Glad Ryan is on the team.

[shimrod]

Machado may be the worst loafer I've ever seen on an MLB ballfield. 

I'm still enjoying the post-deadline Twins more than the previous iteration. And yes, I did watch the game yesterday.

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

The strategy of many teams against the Twins is to throw LHPs against them. Today Twins scored all their runs against LHPs. Good game, against a very good team but I'd rather have them win their series against a weaker struggling NYY & keep them struggling than their series win against SD, who's battling LAD.

I concur on being spoiler against the Yankees,  I have also retained in the back of my mind that the Padres are battling the dodgers and we didn't help them , yes I'd like to see the Padres win the division  , who wouldn't over the dodgers , the Padres are supposed to beat teams like the Twins , it didn't happen ...

Twins had a good game today , Ryan 7 innings , 5 hits and no runs allowed , buxton back on a streak again ...

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

Issuing a walk now qualifies as a clean inning?

Things are bad

[terrydactyls]

P	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	Chicago White Sox	49	88	0.358	-
2	Pittsburgh Pirates	61	77	0.442	11.5
3	Baltimore Orioles	61	76	0.445	12.0
4	Atlanta Braves	62	75	0.453	13.0
5	Minnesota Twins	62	74	0.456	13.5
6	Whatever Athletics	63	75	0.457	13.5
8	Los Angeles Angels	64	72	0.471	15.5
7	Miami Marlins	65	72	0.474	16.0
9	Tampa Bay Rays	67	69	0.493	18.5
10	Arizona Diamondbacks	68	70	0.493	18.5
11	St. Louis Cardinals	68	70	0.493	18.5
13	San Francisco Giants	68	69	0.496	19.0
12	Cleveland Guardians	68	67	0.504	20.0
14	Texas Rangers	71	67	0.514	21.5

[jmlease1]

Buxton and Ryan seem bound and determined not to let the Twins lose 90. While it'll hurt the team's chances for a draft pick, I like the pride. Impressive for Ryan to hold down this lineup this effectively.

The error wasn't great, but Lewis did well at the plate. Would like to see him run a few more of these kinds of games in a row, maybe feel better about him as a hitter going into the offseason. 

If Martin can keep getting on base (and clean up his mental mistakes) he might have a future.

[knothole61]

Great game...this post-trade team is more exciting, yes?

The interview-filled, "phantasmagoric" broadcast today was very hard to watch for this old timer. I can ignore the inane dugout interviews, although I hate them, but the "Beyond the Dugout" on-field interviews during play drive me to distraction. Please, make them stop!

Look, I've played and watched this great game for over 65 years--I can't have too many seasons left, and all I ask is that they stop invading the sanctity of the game itself until I'm gone. Is that too much to ask?

I fear that it is.

Are fans really pushing for this stuff or is it the outwash of some modern media types and their desire to make their mark on the industry? 

The game is enough for me...please leave it alone for a few more years at least.

 

 

 

 

[Doctor Wu]

I feel like so much is made of Martin's poor defense at every position he plays that we forget what he actually contributes offensively.

I agree with what Hans wrote above. Martin may end up being a sneaky-good offensive force if he stays in the lineup. But at which position does he ultimately play? Or, as Hans suggested, might the Twins just try him as a DH? It's nice having a good baserunner with speed on the team.

[Bodie]

13 hours ago, Hans Birkeland said:

for this bullpen yea

...this staff yea

[DJL44]

Rocco should give Buxton a green light on the bases for the rest of the season. It would be great to see a Twin on the 30/30 list.

[nddan67]

Was at Sunday's game.  It was fun to see Ryan on his game and the offense playing well.

 

[rv78]

Maybe Martins defense leaves a lot to be desired but what the Twins need is offense. Beyond Luke Keaschall, Martin is the Twins 2nd best "get on base" guy right now. Of course, the Manager without a brain, has him batting 9th when he should be leading off or hitting second. Buxton who has the power and should be hitting 3rd or 4th is leading off. Makes no sense. Please get a different Manager before the Twins seriously start rebuilding. 

My Lineup for the rest of this season:

1.Martin, 2.Lee, 3.Keaschall, 4.Buxton, 5.Wallner, 6.Jeffers, 7.Lewis, 8.Larnach, 9.Clemens