Josh Bell’s Two-Run Double Helps Twins Win 4-2

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Josh Bell hit a two-run double in the first inning, helping the Minnesota Twins score four runs. The team held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 on Tuesday night.

The first six batters for Minnesota reached against Atlanta pitcher Martín Pérez, with the first four scoring. Bell’s ground-rule double started the scoring, and Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens added RBI singles. Both Bell and Clemens had two hits each.

The Twins let a big lead slip away in their previous game but managed to keep this one thanks to their bullpen. Starter Bailey Ober pitched only 4 1/3 innings before being replaced. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s two-run single in the fifth inning chased Ober, but lefty Taylor Rogers got out of trouble by striking out key batters.

Travis Adams threw two perfect innings with three strikeouts, and Jeff Hoffman escaped a jam in the eighth. Yoendrys Gómez secured the win with his 17th save after the Twins failed to score in the bottom of the eighth.

Pérez, who had pitched 18 straight scoreless innings before this game, gave up nine hits and two walks in five innings.

The game was delayed by rain for 51 minutes but ended dry. The Twins’ next starter is Zebby Matthews, while the Braves will send Tyler Mahle to the mound.