San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Justin Morneau went 3-for-4, homered and knocked in three runs, and the streaking Twins edged the San Diego Padres, 4-3, capping a three-game sweep, the ninth straight win for Minnesota.

The win streak is the longest for the club since an 11-game surge between June 22-July 3, 2006, and allowed them to keep pace with the White Sox in the American League Central. The Twins trail Chicago, which also won on Thursday, by a half-game for first place in the division.

"We're hitting, we're scoring early and often, and we've been getting good pitching," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire of his club's play during the win streak.

Scott Baker (4-2) scattered six hits and three runs over six innings for the Twins, who will try to run their streak to 10 games in Milwaukee on Friday. Brian Buscher went 2-for-4 and knocked in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning for Minnesota.

Josh Banks (2-2) took the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. Khalil Greene homered for the Padres, who have dropped five straight and nine of 10.

With the game knotted at 3-3, Jason Kubel roped a double to right to lead off the sixth for Minnesota. Brendan Harris followed with a fly out to center, but Kubel tagged and headed to third. The Padres lifted Banks in favor of Bryan Corey, and Buscher greeted him with a single to right, bringing Kubel home with the go-ahead run.

The Twins bullpen held down the lead, with Joe Nathan fanning two in the ninth for his 21st save.

Greene gave the Padres the early 1-0 edge with his two-out solo shot to left in the second, and San Diego tacked on two more runs in the third. Banks walked, Jody Gerut doubled, and Craig Stansberry walked to load the bases. Brian Giles lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Banks.

Adrian Gonzalez followed with a grounder to second for a possible double play, but Harris' throwing error allowed Gerut to score for a 3-0 Padres edge.

Morneau made it a one-run game with his 12th homer of the season. Mike Redmond singled to right to lead things off, and Morneau belted a shot out to center, slicing the San Diego lead to 3-2.

"That was huge," said Gardenhire of the homer. "It got everybody up on the bench, and we knew we were back in it, and I think it lifted even Baker up a bit, too."

The 2006 AL MVP then knotted things up in the fifth. With runners at first and second with two outs, Morneau poked a single to right, plating Baker from second to tie the game at 3-3.