{"id":85712,"date":"2025-08-30T10:17:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T10:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=85712"},"modified":"2025-08-30T10:17:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T10:17:52","slug":"twins-7-padres-4-lively-bats-cortes-ejection-lead-to-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=85712","title":{"rendered":"Twins 7, Padres 4: Lively Bats & Cortes Ejection Lead to Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Even mediocrity often finds enjoyable respites.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Image courtesy of \u00a9 Matt Krohn-Imagn Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Oh, we\u2019re still here. 162 means 162, huh? Every team? Even with football starting soon? Ok, the Ship of Theseus Twins roll on, this time hosting the Padres in a battle between an energetic playoff contender and the rotting husk of what used to be a competitive collection of men.<\/p>\n
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Who is the Twins’ best pitching prospect?<\/h3>\n
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Zebby Matthews\u00a0and his powerful jawline toed the rubber for the Twins, as\u00a0Nestor Cortes\u00a0and his association of tricks that one may call \u201ccrafty\u201d took the mound for the Padres.<\/p>\n

Initial results favored no one. San Diego tried and failed to score in the game\u2019s opening frames. Minnesota, as well, placed men on base, but an invisible barrier cursed second base, causing\u00a0Ryan Jeffers\u00a0to attempt in vain to turn a single into a double in the first, and forcing\u00a0Austin Martin\u00a0to remain stationary after he doubled with two outs in the second. Stronger attempts will be needed to score.<\/p>\n

The third brought runs. A sacrifice fly from\u00a0Luis Arraez. who was returning to Target Field in a non-Twins uniform for the first time. Then a matching RBI groundout by\u00a0Byron Buxton. Then a second run for the Padres. Soon, chaos.<\/p>\n

Cortes was thrown out of the game. Unceremoniously, he disagreed with the home plate umpire calling ball four on a close pitch in a 3-2 count and voiced his opinion. The umpire disagreed with his disagreement. Unfortunately for the lefty, umpires hold the ultimate executive ability to do something about it. A simple finger point clarified Cortes\u2019 position remaining in the game. Mike Shildt came to support his player and mime the motions of an upset manager otherwise privy to the uselessness of his objections. A new pitcher trudged in from the bullpen.<\/p>\n

His ejection came with runners on first and second.\u00a0Royce Lewis\u00a0singled to load the bases.\u00a0Kody Clemens\u00a0grounded into a gentleman\u2019s \u201cfielder\u2019s choice,\u201d which is what the perfectly vague term scorers use to avoid bruised egos from defenders. An accurate description is that\u00a0Jake Cronenworth\u00a0mangled a potential double play, causing two runs to score as runners nestled in at second and third.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Trevor Larnach\u00a0chopped a single up the gut to plate two more\u2014and while Minnesota threatened for more in the inning\u2014they settled for a four-piece giving them a 5-2 lead.<\/p>\n

Sorry, Lewis just homered. 6-2 lead. Sorry, Buxton just drove in a run on a single. 7-2 lead.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

San Diego plated two more runs to push the situation into “save” territory. Evidently, the man for the job was\u00a0Kody Funderburk\u00a0: the lefty emerged from the pen, likely as confused as any that he was the one serving as the closer. Nonetheless, he did it, holding the Padres scoreless to secure the win for the Twins.<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Post-Game Interview:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Screenshot2025-08-29211717.png.e477d1f68a66ad0e54459d449b247e26.png\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Matt owns a BA in History\/Social studies and enjoys applying a historical perspective to Twins-related topics<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even mediocrity often finds enjoyable respites. Image courtesy of \u00a9 Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Oh, we\u2019re still here. 162 means 162, huh? Every team? 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