MINNEAPOLIS — The first inning decided the road opener before Atlanta’s lineup could settle in.
According to the Associated Press recap on ESPN, the Minnesota Twins beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 on Aug. 17 at Target Field. ESPN’s package lists Atlanta at 74-51 after the loss and Minnesota at 61-65.
Four-run first against Pérez
The AP account says the first six batters reached against Braves starter Martín Pérez (8-7), with the first four hitters in the order scoring.
Josh Bell’s two-run double started the burst — a flare down the right-field line that fell inside the chalk and bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double. Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens followed with RBI singles.
Bell and Clemens each finished with a pair of hits, the AP notes. Pérez, who had pitched 18 straight scoreless innings entering the start, allowed nine hits and two walks over five innings with three strikeouts.
Acuña trims it; bullpens decide the rest
Ronald Acuña Jr. delivered a two-run single that chased Twins starter Bailey Ober in the fifth, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Left-hander Taylor Rogers then retired lefty batters Matt Olson and Michael Harris II to end the inning, per the AP.
Minnesota’s bullpen held from there:
- Travis Adams (3-0) threw two perfect innings with three strikeouts.
- Jeff Hoffman allowed two runners in the eighth but escaped, helped by Clemens’ diving stop on a hard grounder by Harris.
- Yoendrys Gómez walked the leadoff batter in the ninth and still recorded his 17th save in as many chances after Minnesota failed to score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the eighth.
Game logistics
ESPN lists attendance 19,990, game time 2:40, and a 51-minute start delay even though no rain fell. The ballpark is Target Field in Minneapolis.
What’s next (as of the recap)
The AP’s “up next” notes pointed to RHP Zebby Matthews (6-8, 5.34) for Minnesota and RHP Tyler Mahle (4-9, 4.64) — a trade-deadline acquisition from San Francisco — for Atlanta in the following game of the set. Later results of that start are outside this recap’s frame.
Primary source: ESPN game recap (AP).