Ty France homered and knocked in three runs Friday night while Randy Vasquez sailed through seven innings as the San Diego Padres knocked off the visiting Minnesota Twins 6-2.
Vasquez (9-6) allowed only two hits and two runs, walking none and fanning three, in an 87-pitch effort. It was only the fourth time a San Diego starter completed seven innings this year — twice each by Vasquez and Michael King.
Connor Prielipp (3-7) absorbed the loss, allowing six runs off eight hits and two walks in six innings with seven strikeouts. While San Diego maintained its grip on the National League’s final wild-card spot, Minnesota fell a game behind Texas for the American League’s final wild-card position.
The game was tied at 2-2 in the fifth when the Padres touched Prielipp for four runs. Austin Hays led off with an infield single and Jake Cronenworth drew a one-out walk.
That was followed by consecutive RBI singles from Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Rengifo and Manny Machado. France capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to deep right.
France got the scoring started in the first. After a two-out single by Machado, France teed off on a 96 mph fastball, lacing it an estimated 421 feet to the second deck in left-center for his 18th homer of the year.
Minnesota tied the game in the fourth. Luke Keaschall led off with a single, becoming the first man to reach base against Vasquez. After Byron Buxton forced Keaschall out at second, Josh Bell was plunked by a pitch and Kody Clemens lined a two-run triple off the right field wall.
That was the last baserunner for the Twins. Vasquez, Bradgley Rodriguez and Mason Miller combined to retire the last 16 hitters they faced, with Miller striking out the side in the ninth.
Tatis collected three hits for San Diego, while Rengifo and Machado each bagged two. The top four hitters in the Padres’ lineup went 8-for-13 with four runs and six RBIs.
