(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)
Minnesota Twins‘ pitcher Ervin Santana pitched a nearly flawless complete game, coupled with two RBIs, to edge out the San Diego Padres for a 5-2 win Wednesday at Petco Park to split the series.
Santana struck out nine Padres before Jose Pirela’s two-run home run in the fourth and retired 17 of 20 after Pirela’s homer to improve to 3-0 lifetime against San Diego.
“This road trip was not good for us, so for me to come out and pitch like that today means a lot,” Santana said.
Santana also contributed to the Twins’ score at bat. With the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning after the Padres decided to intentionally walk Jason Castro, Santana singled a ground ball to right field, allowing Hunter Renfro and Miguel Sano to score.
Eduardo Escobar was up to bat next and also singled, allowing Castro and Santa to score.
Pirela’s homer in the fourth cut the Twins’ lead in half but that would be the only time the Padres scored in the game.
Castro’s solo home run in the top of the sixth inning on a fly ball to center field effectively putting an end to the game.
Through most of the six innings he pitched, San Diego right-hander Luis Perdomo was effective at limiting the Twins, but as usual as of late, one inning doomed him.
“It’s kind of the same story with him, and it’s time to turn the page, really,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “The same story in that the stuff’s really good. A number of innings that are incredibly clean, efficient, easy. Dominating, almost. And then the one inning that kind of gets away from him.”
Next up for the Padres is a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh starting at 4:10 p.m. Friday.