Profar hits a 3-run homer in the 8th and the Padres rally past the Twins 7-5

SAN DIEGO, CA – Jurickson Profar delivered a game-changing three-run homer in the eighth inning, leading the San Diego Padres to a dramatic 7-5 comeback victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Manny Machado also contributed with a home run as the Padres secured their second consecutive win over the Twins in this clash of playoff hopefuls. Jake Cronenworth added two hits and scored twice for San Diego.

Down 5-3, the Padres rallied when Profar belted a low slider from Steven Okert (3-2) into left field for his 20th home run of the season. Earlier in the inning, Donovan Solano and Luis Arraez had reached base with singles, setting up Profar’s crucial blast.

Xander Bogaerts then sealed the win with an RBI double off Ronny Henriquez, pushing San Diego ahead 7-5.

Tanner Scott (8-5) earned the win despite allowing two runs and four hits in the eighth inning. Robert Suarez closed out the game with a scoreless ninth, securing his 29th save.

The Padres, who have been on a hot streak, improved to 22-5 in their last 27 games. They have won nine of their last 10 series and nine of their past 10 home games.

For the Twins, Ryan Jeffers provided two hits and two RBIs in their third consecutive loss, while Carlos Santana also contributed with two hits and two runs scored. Minnesota took a 5-3 lead on Christian Vázquez’s pinch-hit single off Scott, which drove in Royce Lewis and Santana.

Twins right-hander Bailey Ober was charged with three runs and four hits over six-plus innings. He had a 3-1 lead before surrendering Machado’s two-run homer in the seventh, which was Machado’s 20th of the year.

San Diego initially took the lead when Jackson Merrill doubled and scored on David Peralta’s two-out single in the second. However, the Twins responded with two runs in the fourth inning against Martín Pérez. Santana led off with a double, and Jeffers followed with a first-pitch cutter homer to left.

Pérez ended the night with three runs and seven hits allowed in 4 2/3 innings.

**UP NEXT**

In the series finale on Wednesday, the Twins’ right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (4-3, 3.77 ERA) will face off against the Padres’ right-hander Matt Waldron (7-10, 4.29 ERA).

(Photo courtesy of Twins/MLB)