Twins Top Hoffman, Padres in NInth

MINNESOTA 3, SAN DIEGO 1

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Brendan Harris snapped a ninth-inning tie with a solo homer to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Padres closer Trevor Hoffman (1-5) came on to protect a 1-1 tie in the ninth and got a pair of strikeouts against the first two hitters before Harris hit the first pitch he saw from the major league's all-time saves leader into the left field seats to give the Twins a 2-1 lead. Brian Buscher followed with a homer on the very next pitch to push it to 3-1, and Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to earn his 20th save of the season. Kevin Slowey started for Minnesota and tossed six scoreless innings, striking out seven without allowing a walk.