Minnesota Twins Defeat Padres 7-4 After Wild Fourth Inning, Nestor Cortes Ejected – Game Recap 8/29/25

Friday, August 29th, 2025

Minnesota Twins Defeat San Diego Padres 7-4 After Wild Fourth Inning

The Minnesota Twins capitalized on a dramatic fourth inning to secure a 7-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night in Minneapolis. The inning featured a costly two-run error by the Padres and the ejection of starting pitcher Nestor Cortes, which shifted the momentum squarely in the Twins' favor.

Chaos in the Fourth Inning

The turning point of the game came during a mound visit after a walk to Twins left fielder Austin Martin. Padres starter Nestor Cortes was ejected by home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez. Following Cortes’ exit, reliever Wandy Peralta entered the game but allowed both inherited runners to score on a misplayed ground ball by second baseman Jake Cronenworth. The error enabled the Twins to extend their lead and eliminated a potential double play.

Twins Add Insurance; Padres Fight Back

Minnesota continued to build on their lead in the fifth inning, including a solo home run by Royce Lewis. In the seventh, San Diego responded with two runs on a single by Fernando Tatis Jr., trimming the deficit to 7-4. However, former Twin Luis Arraez ended the threat by lining into an inning-ending double play.

Strong Outing from Zebby Matthews

Twins starter Zebby Matthews earned the win, pitching six solid innings, allowing three runs, and not issuing a walk. Kody Funderburk closed out the game to record his second career save. The Padres struggled overall, losing for the fourth time in their last five games.

Milestone for Byron Buxton

Byron Buxton made team history in the third inning, becoming the seventh Twins player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season after swiping third base — notably, the first time in his career that he stole third.

Key Moment

Jake Cronenworth's fourth-inning error with the bases loaded sealed the Padres' fate. Kody Clemens hit a grounder that slipped between Cronenworth's legs, allowing two runs to cross the plate and quashing a possible double play for San Diego.

Key Stat

Buxton’s third-inning stolen base was the 113th of his career and marked his first time ever stealing third base.

Up Next

The Padres will look to bounce back in the second game of the series with right-hander Nick Pivetta (13-4, 2.82 ERA) taking the mound. The Twins counter with right-hander Taj Bradley (6-7, 4.95 ERA), making his second start since being acquired from Tampa Bay.

In summary

The Minnesota Twins emerged victorious over the San Diego Padres with a 7-4 win thanks to a chaotic sequence in the fourth inning, a key error, and a strong pitching performance from Zebby Matthews. Byron Buxton’s milestone stolen base, combined with timely hitting and defensive miscues from the Padres, proved to be the difference. The series continues with both teams looking for a pivotal win as they head toward the postseason.

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