Closing out a three-game set on the road, the Padres turned to their elite bullpen to earn the series win. 

The move backfired, as left-hander Kyle Hart allowed three runs while recording just four outs, as Minnesota ace Joe Ryan held the Padres offense to five hits in seven shutout innings, as the young Twins took the series. 

San Diego’s bullpen entered the game with plenty of top-ranked players across baseball, which the Roku broadcast made sure to highlight. However, Padres relievers were also second in the league in appearances with 468 entering today, only six behind the Dodgers (who have had the most relief appearances this season). David Morgan served as the opener for San Diego, and after struggling in his last three outings (6 ER in 3 IP), Morgan was back to peak form. The right-hander pitched two innings of scoreless ball with two strikeouts. Morgan’s outing appeared to bode well for the Padres’ pitching staff, and Kyle Hart was called upon in the third. 

Hart had a pickoff of Austin Martin in the bag, but his step towards first exceeded the 45-degree plane, prompting the umpires to call a balk. Byron Buxton then crushed a hanging changeup 105.7 mph off the bat to left field for a two-run homer. Hart was removed from the game one out later, recording four of (at least) 24 outs. Jeremiah Estrada threw 21 pitches, allowing one inherited runner to score. 

HONK HONK! ?

A new career high in home runs for Buck! pic.twitter.com/zqer7CgA8Z

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 31, 2025

Outman adds on‼️ pic.twitter.com/27Thaof2UC

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 31, 2025

San Diego’s best scoring chance against the Twins starter came in the fourth inning. Manny Machado reached base on an error by Royce Lewis. Ryan O’Hearn singled to right to set up runners at first and second with no outs. San Diego had three of their hottest hitters coming up in Ramon Laureano, Gavin Sheets, and Jake Cronenworth, while Minnesota’s Joe Ryan had held opponents to a .190 batting average in these situations all season. The dam had to break one way or another, but it broke in Minnesota’s favor; Ryan punched out Laureano and Sheets, jamming Cronenworth on a weak fly ball to left field to end the scoring threat. 

San Diego turned to Wandy Peralta, but Minnesota got three runs off the left-hander. Peralta and Yuki Matsui allowed three runs in three innings. Padres pitching struck out ten batters in the game, but dealt with rough batted ball luck, as the Twins’ lineup posted a .208 expected batting average against Padres’ pitching. 

And the extra point is good! ? pic.twitter.com/aOui6RQGRK

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 31, 2025

The Padres’ lineup went quiet against Joe Ryan, as they only picked up five base hits and one walk in seven innings. The aforementioned fourth-inning rally was their best scoring opportunity against the All-Star. San Diego got runners on the corners with two outs in the sixth, but Ryan got Gavin Sheets to line out to left. The Padres’ best offensive output came in the ninth inning. Facing reliever Michael Tonkin for a second inning, Sheets singled, and Mason McCoy was plunked with no outs. After Jose Iglesias hit into a double play, Freddy Fermin hit an RBI double to break the shutout. Bryce Johnson singled to score Fermin, but Luis Arraez flew out to end the game. 

Roster Moves Incoming?

San Diego, like the rest of the league, will see their roster expand from 26 to 26 before Monday’s series opener against the Orioles. With the San Diego bullpen taxed, another reliever will likely join the Padres in San Diego on Monday. 

Right-hander Michael King is also likely to rejoin the Padres in the coming week, as he threw a simulated game in Fort Wayne (Padres’ High-A affiliate). King will likely start one of the team’s games later in the week. 

It was great to host @Padres All-Star pitcher Michael King for a simulated game at Parkview Field.

We wish him the best as he works his way back to The Show! pic.twitter.com/ZOsVFAMWvm

— Fort Wayne TinCaps (@TinCaps) August 30, 2025

The Padres return to Petco Park to face the Orioles for a three-game set, with Dylan Cease matching up with Kyle Bradish in the series opener on Monday.

Diego Garcia

A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.

A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.