Kody Clemens racked up three RBIs, including the go-ahead hit in the seventh inning, to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis
The win gave the Twins a series sweep of the Braves after Minnesota was swept at home by the Phillies last weekend.
It was the Twins’ first series sweep since doing so on the road against the Texas Rangers June 15-18.
It was the first time the Braves have been swept since losing three straight at San Diego June 22-24.
Josh Bell started the winning rally with a one-out double to center. Dylan Lee came on to face Clemens, but he gave up the hit to right that scored Bell. Brooks Lee gave the Twins an insurance run by singling in Clemens with two outs.
A.J. Minter (2-2) picked up the win in relief after going two-thirds of an inning against his former team. Yoendrys Gomez earned his 20th save with a perfect ninth inning.
Victor Mederos (2-1) took the loss, giving up a run and two hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Minnesota starter Taj Bradley gave up two hits and one run in five innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out seven in 88 pitches.
Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver gave up five hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out three in 75 pitches.
After opening the scoring with one run in the third, the Twins broke through with three runs in the fifth.
Kaelen Culpepper and Luke Keaschall started the rally with one-out singles, and Byron Buxton walked to load the bases.
Bell brought in Culpepper by drawing a full-count walk. Dylan Dodd relieved Smith-Shawver and Clemens greeted him with a double to right field that scored Kaeschall and Buxton to make it 4-1 Minnesota.
The Braves wasted little time in tying the game with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth.
Matt Olson led off with a single and Michael Harris II reached on an infield single. Pinch hitter Lane Thomas brought in Olson with a single to right.
Ozzie Albies made it 4-3 by driving in Harris with a sacrifice fly to right.
Pinch hitter Mauricio Dubon singled Thomas to third, allowing him to score on a Tommy Nance balk to tie the game at 4.
Buxton opened the scoring with an RBI grounder in the third. Ronald Acuna Jr. tied the game at 1 for Atlanta in the fifth with an RBI single which plated Austin Riley.
–Field Level Media
