The Twins decided this one before most fans had settled into their seats. Minnesota scored four times in the first inning and never trailed, beating the Braves 4-2 at Target Field.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| MIN | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 10 | 0 |
Josh Bell drove the outburst, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. His ground-rule double in the first inning scored two runs and put Minnesota ahead for good. Luke Keaschall and Royce Lewis each added two hits for the Twins, while Byron Buxton reached base three times with a hit and a walk.
Minnesota's first inning unfolded in waves. Bell's ground rule double scored Keaschall and Buxton to put the Twins up 2-0 and gave Minnesota a lead it would not relinquish. Royce Lewis followed with a single to center that brought home Jeffers, and Kody Clemens singled to right to score Bell, capping the four-run inning. Atlanta got two of those runs back in the fifth when Ronald Acuña Jr. singled to left, scoring Riley and Baldwin, but the Braves could not find another run the rest of the way.
Martin Perez took the loss for Atlanta, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits over 5.0 innings with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Minnesota starter Bailey Ober worked 4.1 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits before handing the ball to the bullpen, which delivered from there. Travis Adams picked up the win with 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out three, and Yoendrys Gomez closed it out for his 18th save of the season.
The win moved Minnesota to 61-65, snapping into a form after a losing skid with the streak now at W1. Atlanta fell to 74-51 with the loss, its streak now at L1, though the Braves remain atop their division at the No. 1 spot. Perez sits at 99 career wins, one shy of 100.