Kirilloff’s single scores automatic runner in 11th, Twins beat Padres 4-3
Minnesota Twins' Alex Kirilloff, left, celebrates with Donovan Solano after hitting a single to drive in the winning run against the San Diego Padres during the 11th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alex Kirilloff’s single in the 11th inning scored automatic runner Max Kepler and the Minnesota Twins pulled out a 4-3 win against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
With Kepler on second, Carlos Correa was intentionally walked. Kirilloff then pulled a pitch from Domingo Tapia (0-1) down the right-field line to help Minnesota snap a three-game losing streak.
Griffin Jax (2-4) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 11th to secure the win for the Twins after both teams scored their automatic runners in the 10th.
“Obviously, the last couple of years have been dealing with some injuries and stuff like that,” said Kirilloff, who was in his fourth game back in the majors after two wrist surgeries the past two years. “It feels good to feel healthy and be back here and playing ball.”
Kepler homered, doubled and scored three runs for Minnesota, which got another quality start from Pablo López.
“That’s a really good win,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “There was a lot of stuff going on in that game. A lot of it was subtle. A lot of it was apparent. But our pitching went out there and kind of took the bull by the horns there.”
Juan Soto homered for San Diego, which has lost three of four. Josh Hader blew his second save in 13 chances this season when pinch-hitter Donovan Solano singled in the 10th to score the automatic runner. The Padres are winless in four extra-inning games this season.
“We had our opportunities,” San Diego manager Bob Melvin said. “We did get some big hits today and we came back against a really good bullpen, and they had a lead, just couldn’t finish it off.”
San Diego loaded the bases in the top of the 11th after a pair of walks — one intentional — but Matt Carpenter struck out looking for the third time in the game to end the inning.
The Padres went hitless in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. They started the night 29th in baseball hitting with runners in scoring position with a .208 average, just ahead of Detroit at .207.
“It’s not just one guy,” infielder Jake Cronenworth said. “I feel like it’s a group. We just need to execute better in those situations.”