MINNEAPOLIS -- Nestor Cortes didn’t have great command of his pitches on Friday night, and it cost him and the Padres. He did have good command of his emotions, but that didn’t work out too well for him, either.

Cortes walked two and gave up five hits before he was handed his first career ejection in the fourth inning, and the Padres lost for the fourth time in five games, 7-4, to the Twins in the series opener at Target Field.

Five Minnesota hitters reached base in the first three innings, though Cortes was able to limit the damage to one run. But things got away from him in the fourth, when the Twins scored four times to take a 5-2 lead, with two of the runs charged to Cortes.

The trouble started when Matt Wallner singled to lead off the fourth. With Austin Martin at the plate, Wa

See Full Page