Twins defeat Giants as Chris Paddack clings to perfection into sixth inning

Bobby Nightengale, The Minnesota Star Tribune on May 9, 2025

Published in Baseball

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MINNEAPOLIS — Chris Paddack watched Christian Koss line a single into center field with two outs in the sixth inning Friday, and he grabbed the bill of his cap.

In a way, it was a salute to himself. Paddack was perfect through his first 17 batters, pitching with remarkable efficiency while overpowering batters.

Paddack completed 7 1/3 innings in his longest start of the season, surrendering a solo homer to Matt Chapman with two outs in the seventh inning, as he carried the Twins to a 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in their series opener at Target Field. It was Paddack’s longest start since an eight-inning outing on May 19, 2024.

The Twins have won six consecutive games, and they’re one game under .500 for the first time since Opening Day.

It looked effortless when Paddack reached only one three-ball count and little hard contact. He required only 28 pitches in his first trip through the Giants lineup, and he threw only 43 pitches through his first five innings.

Giants shortstop Willy Adames hooked Paddack’s eighth pitch Friday toward the right-field foul pole, then reluctantly ran the bases after third base umpire Ramon De Jesus signaled a home run.

There was some confusion about whether the ball was fair or foul. Paddack bent at the waist as he watched from the mound. Adames looked at coaches and teammates as he jogged around the bases, then he stopped at home plate and picked up his bat when the umpiring crew huddled before a replay review.

It was a foul ball by a few feet, confirmed on replay review, and Paddack decided he didn’t want any more close calls. He struck out five of his first nine batters, pummeling the strike zone with a fastball that sat at 95 mph, up about 1.5 mph from his season average on an 84-degree evening.

With two outs in the sixth inning, Paddack permitted his first baserunner when Koss hit a fastball that hovered over the middle of the plate. The announced crowd of 21,744 applauded Paddack, who proceeded to retire his next three batters.

Paddack, who gave up a homer to Chapman on a change-up over the middle of the plate with two outs in the seventh inning, received a lengthy standing ovation when he walked off the mound for the final time. Paddack raised his glove in response, then hugged teammates in the dugout.

Byron Buxton, one of the hottest hitters in the league over the past three weeks, terrorized yet another team. He greeted Giants starter Jordan Hicks with a leadoff triple off the right-field wall on Hicks’ first pitch. It was Buxton’s third triple this year, matching his highest total in a season since 2019.

Two pitches later, Trevor Larnach poked an RBI single to left field for an early 1-0 lead.

Hicks, like Paddack, was efficient with his pitch count, but he wasn’t as effective at quieting opposing hitters. Ty France opened the fourth inning with a single and swiped second base on a full-count strikeout for the third stolen base of his seven-year career. Carlos Correa followed with a two-out RBI single to right field and was tagged out when a throw from the outfield was cut off around the mound.

Harrison Bader opened the fifth inning with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and he scored when Buxton lined a single to third base. Bader stopped at third, but Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos bobbled the ball, allowing Bader to score easily on the error.

The Twins didn’t appear to have relievers Griffin Jax or Jhoan Duran available after they pitched in each of the past two games, and they picked up their first win of the season when scoring fewer than four runs.

They entered with a 0-17 record when scoring three or fewer runs, but Danny Coulombe earned his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.