Rookie Drake Baldwin Delivers Clutch Hit as Braves Storm Back to Beat Twins 6–4
Rookie pinch-hitter Drake Baldwin came through in a big way on Friday night, driving in the go-ahead runs with a two-run single to cap a five-run rally in the eighth inning. The late surge lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 6–4 comeback win over the visiting Minnesota Twins in the opener of their three-game series.
The victory extended Atlanta’s dominance over Minnesota to nine straight wins, a streak dating back to August 5, 2019.
Down 4–1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Braves came alive against reliever Griffin Jax (0–2). Marcell Ozuna drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on Matt Olson’s single, and scored when Ozzie Albies legged out an infield hit. After Sean Murphy walked to load the bases, Eli White came in to pinch run.
Michael Harris II tied the game with a two-run single off reliever Cole Sands. Moments later, Baldwin ripped a single to center, driving in two more and giving Atlanta its first lead of the night.
The comeback spoiled a strong start from Minnesota’s Chris Paddack, who gave up just one run on three hits over five innings while striking out a season-high six batters.
Drake Baldwin
Atlanta starter Bryce Elder allowed four runs on six hits in five innings, with three walks and three strikeouts. But the Braves bullpen took over from there, tossing four perfect innings. Enyel De Los Santos (1–0) earned the win with 1 2/3 scoreless frames, while Raisel Iglesias closed it out in the ninth for his third save of the season.
Minnesota struck early, putting up two runs in the second. Ryan Jeffers doubled in a run, then scored on Luke Keaschall’s RBI single — the first hit of his MLB career. Trevor Larnach made it 3–0 in the third with a 407-foot solo homer to right field, his first of the season. Edouard Julien added a fourth run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly that scored Keaschall following his double.
Atlanta got on the board in the fifth when Jarred Kelenic crushed a 418-foot solo homer to center — his second of the year — before the Braves’ explosive eighth-inning rally turned the game around.
Leave a Reply