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Justin Morneau went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI, and the Twins beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Thursday to win their ninth straight game, all against the NL.
The Twins swept the Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks and now the Padres. Prior to that, they won two of three against Milwaukee. Minnesota is 12-3 overall against the NL this season going into their final interleague series at home this weekend against the Brewers.
The Twins have gained six games on the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox during this round of interleague play.
The Twins have outscored their opponents 56-19 during the nine-game winning streak, and their starters are 8-0 with a 2.17 ERA.
It’s their longest winning streak since taking 11 straight from June 22-
July 3, 2006.
Twins starter Scott Baker had a big day. Baker (4-2) got his first big league hit and scored his first run while holding the Padres to three runs and six hits in six innings. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 23 chances.
The Padres blew a 3-0 lead for the second time in less than 24 hours, losing their fifth straight game and for the 10th time in 12 games. Greg Maddux couldn’t hold a 3-0 lead in a 9-3 loss on Wednesday night and rookie Josh Banks (2-2) did the same on Thursday.
Morneau brought the Twins back with two swings. He hit an impressive two-run homer to straightaway center field in the fifth inning and an RBI single in the fifth. His homer, estimated at 419 feet, was his 12th, and came with Mike Redmond aboard on a leadoff single.
It was the fifth homer during the series at spacious Petco Park for the Twins, who came into the day with just 51, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the fewest in the majors.
Baker singled to right leading off the fifth, advanced on Redmond’s single and scored when Morneau singled to right.
Banks allowed Jason Kubel’s leadoff double in the sixth, then left after retiring Brendan Harris. Brian Corey came on and promptly gave up an RBI single to Brian Buscher that put the Twins ahead 4-3.
Banks allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.
San Diego had runners on second and third and one out but failed to score. Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a one-out single and took third on rookie Chase Headley’s double to right. Fans booed when third base coach Glenn Hoffman held up Kouzmanoff. Buscher, the third baseman, fielded Khalil Greene’s grounder and threw out Kouzmanoff at home, and Luke Carlin struck out to end the inning.
San Diego’s Khalil Greene hit a two-out homer in the second, his eighth. Brian Giles hit a sacrifice fly in the third and another run scored that inning on a throwing error by Harris, the shortstop.
Notes:@ With the NBA draft on Thursday night, the Padres turned to forward Jared Dudley of the Charlotte Bobcats to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Dudley played at San Diego’s Horizon High and was Charlotte’s first-round pick last year out of Boston College. ... Even if the Padres don’t play any better in July, at least their fans will get a break at the concession stands. The team said it has listened to fan input and will sell hot dogs and regular-size soft drinks for $1, and take $1 off beer prices during their nine home games in July. “We hope July Dollar Days will provide some relief to all our fans from higher gas prices and the current overall economy,” team CEO Sandy Alderson said in a statement.
