Alex Verdugo Shines in Braves Debut Week, Powers 4-3 Win Over Twins
Alex Verdugo came up big in just his second game with the Braves, delivering four hits and driving in the go-ahead run as Atlanta edged out the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Saturday night. The win marked the Braves’ first set of back-to-back victories this season—and extended their dominance over the Twins to 10 straight wins, dating back to 2019.
Verdugo was red-hot at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles. His clutch single in the sixth inning off reliever Brock Stewart drove in Nick Allen, putting Atlanta ahead for good.
Veteran lefty Chris Sale got the start for the Braves, striking out a season-high eight batters over 4 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and three walks. Pierce Johnson (1-0) picked up the win in relief, while Raisel Iglesias locked down the ninth to earn his fourth save, with the Braves bullpen retiring the final 11 batters in a row.
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Minnesota opened the game with Justin Topa as an opener—his first career start. Topa gave up one run on three hits over a single inning before handing things over to Simeon Woods Richardson (1-2), who allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings.
The Twins got on the board early with Byron Buxton legging out a swinging bunt and later scoring on a double by rookie Luke Keaschall. The Braves responded immediately in the bottom of the first, as Verdugo led off with a single and scored on Matt Olson’s RBI double—his 1,000th career hit.
Olson struck again in the third with an RBI single to bring Verdugo home, but Carlos Correa tied it up in the fourth with an opposite-field solo homer, his first of the season.
The Twins briefly took a 3-2 lead in the sixth thanks to Buxton’s sacrifice fly, but Michael Harris II quickly evened the score with a towering 446-foot solo blast to right. Verdugo then gave Atlanta the lead for good later that inning.
Minnesota’s DaShawn Keirsey Jr. exited the game after injuring his left hand on a bunt attempt.
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