Eddie Rosario hit a two-run home run with two outs in the 10th inning, lifting the Minnesota Twins to a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night to maintain their cushion for the second AL wild card spot.
After Joe Mauer hit a one-out single off Phil Maton (3-1), Rosario sent a 2-0 pitch soaring into the right-field seats that stayed just inside the foul pole. He raced around the bases to find a mob of teammates waiting for him at the plate in celebration of the team’s fourth walk-off win this season, dumping a bucket of ice on his head after he hit his 23rd homer.
Matt Belisle (2-2) retired all five batters he faced for the Twins, who improved to 15-5 all-time against the Padres.
Austin Hedges homered for San Diego to tie the game in the eighth inning, but with runners at first and second in the ninth he flied out.
Ervin Santana gave the Twins six scoreless innings, with only three hits and one walk allowed while striking out seven, but manager Paul Molitor pulled him after 93 pitches. Santana has five complete games this season, with 100-plus pitches thrown in 17 of 30 starts.
