Connor Prielipp's Mid-Inning Troubles Cost Twins In Series Opener Against Padres

The Minnesota Twins entered Friday's opener against the San Diego Padres looking to pick up where they left off after securing a three-game sweep over the Atlanta Braves earlier in the week. 

Unfortunately, the team suffered a 6-2 loss as starting left-hander Connor Prielipp surrendered eight hits and six earned runs even though he fanned seven batters through six innings pitched.

Manny Machado pounced on Prielipp early in the first inning with a single and eventually came into score along with Ty France who launched a two-run homer that put the Padres ahead 2-0.

Meanwhile, the Twins struggled to find an answer for San Diego right-hander Randy Vásquez who gave up just two earned runs and recorded three punchouts in seven innings of work.

San Diego threatened once again in the third when Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled and Luis Rengifo singled, advancing him to third. Prielipp held on though as Machado grounded out into an inning-ending double play.

Luke Keaschall came through in the fourth with a single to provide the jolt that Minnesota's lineup needed to tie the matchup at 2-2 when Kody Clemens hit a clutch RBI triple, driving in Byron Buxton and Josh Bell.

However, the Padres regained control of the driver's seat in the fifth when Tatis Jr. scored Austin Hays with an RBI single. Rengifo and Machado joined in the action, driving in another pair of runners while Rengifo scored afterward off a sacrifice fly by France to extend the lead to 6-2.

Despite holding such an advantage, San Diego kept their foot on the pedal as the relief duo of Bradgley Rodríguez and closer Mason Miller combined for four strikeouts across two innings and gave up no earned runs.

Miller struck out the side to seal the Twins' fate in the ninth as Keaschall, Bell and Buxton all went down swinging on his signature four-seam fastball which has topped out at speeds greater than 100 mph. 

With the loss, Prielipp has compiled a 5.57 ERA on the season while going 3-7 in 93.2 innings pitched. 

Furthermore, the 25-year-old's struggles have been evident since his outing last Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies when he yielded eight earned runs and issued four walks, leading to Minnesota's 9-1 defeat.

The Twins will be back in action tomorrow night at 8:40 p.m. EDT as Dean Kremer takes the mound against right-hander Casey Mize who San Diego acquired in a trade from the Detroit Tigers before the Aug. 3 deadline.