Tatis homers twice, drives in 4 runs to lead Padres to 8-1 win, 3-game sweep of Twins

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two homers and drove in four runs for the red-hot San Diego Padres, who beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 Sunday for a three-game sweep in a showdown of teams pushing for wild-card spots.

Luis Rengifo hit a tiebreaking two-run double with the bases loaded in the sixth and Walker Buehler (8-6) pitched six strong innings for the Padres, who continue to hold the National League’s third wild-card berth.

San Diego won for the 11th time in 14 games and for the 21st time in 28.

The Twins came into the series tied with Texas for the American League’s third wild card but have dropped back into a traffic jam outside the final postseason berth.

Tatis homered off starter Bailey Ober with one out in the third inning and again off Taylor Rogers leading off the eighth. Tatis has 17 homers overall and 12 since the All-Star break.

Tatis, who had four hits, also had a two-run single during a four-run outburst against the Twins’ bullpen in the sixth that broke a 1-1 tie. San Diego loaded the bases with one out before Rengifo doubled to right for a 3-1 lead. Tatis followed with a two-run single to center.

Jackson Merrill homered during the two-run seventh, his 21st.

Buehler’s only big mistake was allowing Brooks Lee’s homer with two outs in the fifth. It clinched the first 20-homer season for Lee, who also homered Saturday night.

Buehler held the Twins to one run and four hits, with four strikeouts and no walks.

Kody Funderbunk (3-2) took the loss.

Obert allowed one run and four hits in five innings.

Up next

Twins RHP Zebby Matthews (7-8, 5.12 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday night in Sacramento against A’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-11, 6.02).

Padres LHP Robbie Ray (11-7, 3.20) is scheduled to start Monday night at home against Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (13-5, 3.68).

___

See AP’s full MLB coverage here