Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres discards his bat after hitting a two-RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning of a baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
SAN DIEGO, California (KNFL/KFGO/AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. launched two home runs and drove in four runs as the San Diego Padres, on fire, defeated the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Sunday, completing a three-game series sweep in a contest between teams vying for wild-card positions.
Luis Rengifo contributed a pivotal two-run double with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, while Walker Buehler (8-6) delivered six impressive innings for the Padres, who maintain their hold on the National League’s third wild-card spot.
This victory marked the Padres’ 11th win in 14 games and their 21st in the last 28 matches.
The Twins entered the series tied with Texas for the American League’s third wild card but have now found themselves outside the final postseason berth.
Tatis homered off starter Bailey Ober with one out in the third inning and added another off Taylor Rogers to start the eighth. He now has a total of 17 home runs, with 12 coming since the All-Star break.
With four hits under his belt, Tatis also had a two-run single during a four-run rally against the Twins’ bullpen in the sixth inning that broke a 1-1 deadlock. San Diego loaded the bases with one out before Rengifo doubled to right, giving them a 3-1 lead, and Tatis followed with a two-run single to center.
Jackson Merrill added a home run in the two-run seventh, marking his 21st of the season.
Buehler’s only major misstep was conceding a homer to Brooks Lee with two outs in the fifth, marking Lee’s first 20-homer season, following another blast Saturday night.
Buehler limited the Twins to just one run and four hits, striking out four while issuing no walks.
Kody Funderbunk (3-2) was charged with the loss, while Ober allowed one run and four hits across five innings.
Looking Ahead
Twins RHP Zebby Matthews (7-8, 5.12 ERA) is set to start on Monday night in Sacramento against A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-11, 6.02).
Padres LHP Robbie Ray (11-7, 3.20) will take the mound Monday night at home against Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (13-5, 3.68).
