SAN DIEGO — With their rotation depleted by injuries — Joe Ryan and Chris Paddack are on the injured list — the Twins will need a trio of rookie starters to step up as they make a push for a playoff berth.

That group — Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa and Zebby Matthews — has given them reasons for optimism, each showing glimmers of their potential during their time in the major leagues.

But on Monday, it was a Padres rookie who served the Twins a decisive blow in a 5-3 loss in the series opener at Petco Park.

Matthews, making just the second start of his career, saw things spiral away from him in an uncharacteristic third inning. The 24-year-old rocketed his way up through the minor leagues this year, going from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita to Triple-A St. Paul to the major leagues in just a matter of months. Part of his quick rise was due to his impeccable control — in 97 minor league innings this year, he issued just seven walks.

But on Monday, after first baseman Carlos Santana could not corral a ball and Matthews dropped second baseman Edouard Julien’s feed to him at first base, allowing a runner to reach, Matthews issued a pair of bases on balls.

All those runners came around to score when Jackson Merrill, a National League Rookie of the Year candidate, knocked double to center, breaking open for good what had been a tie game.

The Twins had taken an early lead — Matt Wallner’s double brought home Trevor Larnach — in the first inning, lost that lead in the bottom of the frame when Matthews gave up a pair of runs and tied the game up once more in the top of the second with a run scoring on a Willi Castro groundout.

But they were shut down offensively late in the game, the bats going almost completely silent. After Austin Martin’s hit with two outs in the fourth inning, the next 15 Twins hitters went down in order against Padres starter Michael King, who went six innings, and a trio of San Diego relievers.

The Twins did not have another runner reach until the top of the ninth with a pair of outs when Julien drew a walk. He came around to score on a Christian Vázquez single, bringing the Twins back within a pair of runs.

While the Twins did bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Jose Miranda, he grounded out to end the game, one in which the Twins finished with just five hits.

With the loss and a Kansas City Royals win, the Twins are now tied for second place in the American League Central, 2 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cleveland Guardians.