Padres rally with four-run seventh inning to beat Twins 7-5 after Casey Mize injury

Seventh-inning rally

The San Diego Padres scored four runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Minnesota Twins 7-5 on Saturday night. The comeback began against Twins reliever Andrew Morris when Freddy Fermin reached base on catcher's interference with one out. Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with a single before Jake Cronenworth lined a two-run double into the left-field corner to cut Minnesota's lead to 5-4. Manny Machado then hit a ground ball to shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, who attempted to throw out Cronenworth at third base. Third baseman Brooks Lee missed the throw for an error, allowing Cronenworth to slide headfirst into home plate with the tying run. Ty France drove in the go-ahead run with an opposite-field single to right field to score Machado.

Mize injury and early innings

San Diego's comeback followed an early exit by starting pitcher Casey Mize, who left with two outs in the third inning due to a right ankle sprain. Mize suffered the injury when he slipped and landed awkwardly on his right foot while descending the dugout steps after the top of the second inning. Before the injury, Mize surrendered three solo home runs: a leadoff shot to Luke Keaschall on his fourth pitch in the first inning, followed by consecutive home runs from Lee and Culpepper with two outs in the second. Padres manager Craig Stammen and a team athletic trainer examined Mize during third-inning warmups and permitted him to continue. Mize retired two batters before Ryan Jeffers hit a two-out double on a ten-pitch at-bat. Kyle Hart relieved Mize and allowed an RBI single to Kody Clemens, leaving Mize with four earned runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Rotation depth concerns

The ankle injury complicates an already thin starting rotation for San Diego, who acquired Mize from the Detroit Tigers on 3 August in exchange for pitching prospect Kash Mayfield. The 29-year-old right-hander holds a 3.44 ERA, 95 strikeouts, and 26 walks over 104 2/3 innings across 20 starts this season, but has posted a 7.00 ERA in four starts with the Padres. Mize previously missed time between late April and mid-June with adductor strain issues. San Diego's rotation alternatives remain limited. Joe Musgrove is recovering from October 2024 Tommy John surgery and experienced a minor back injury in the weight room before his planned final rehab start. Veteran starter Nick Pivetta remains sidelined with an April flexor strain and a subsequent rehab setback, while trade-deadline addition Robbie Ray carries a 4.20 ERA through three starts.

Wild-card race and series finale

Reliever Griffin Canning earned the win to improve to 4-9, while Mason Miller recorded his 32nd save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning. Jackson Merrill contributed earlier for San Diego, hitting his 20th home run of the season off Dean Kremer in the second inning and adding an RBI single in the sixth. With the victory, San Diego has won 10 of its last 13 games and 20 of 27, maintaining possession of the third wild-card spot in the National League. Minnesota remains outside the third American League wild-card position. The three-game series concludes on Sunday, with Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (7-4, 4.62 ERA) scheduled to face Padres right-hander Walker Buehler (7-6, 4.79 ERA).