Clemens Drives in 3 RBIs as Twins Sweep Braves

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kody Clemens and Brooks Lee delivered RBI singles in the seventh inning, helping the Minnesota Twins defeat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Wednesday. The Twins secured a sweep of the three-game series.

Clemens had three RBIs, while Kaelen Culpepper contributed three hits for Minnesota. Yoendrys Gómez earned his third save in as many games and his 20th of the season with a clean ninth inning. A.J. Minter (2-2) pitched the last two outs of the seventh, and Jeff Hoffman struck out three batters in the eighth.

The game was tied at 4 when Josh Bell doubled off Victor Mederos (2-1), setting up Clemens’ RBI single against Dylan Lee. Brooks Lee followed with another RBI single to score Clemens.

Ronald Acuña Jr., Lane Thomas, and Ozzie Albies had RBIs for Atlanta. The Braves have struggled recently, scoring 15 runs in five losses out of six games. They are batting poorly in key situations, going 8 for 43 with runners on base.

Manager Walt Weiss was ejected for arguing a call in the eighth inning.

AJ Smith-Shawver, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, started for Atlanta and allowed five hits and four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Twins led 4-1 after a three-run fifth inning highlighted by Clemens’ two-run double.

In the sixth inning, Atlanta tied the game with three straight singles against Kody Funderburk, including a balk that scored a run.

Twins starter Taj Bradley pitched five innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out seven batters. He faced tough situations but managed to keep the Twins in control.

Upcoming games: The Braves will face the Chicago White Sox on Thursday with Grant Holmes starting for Atlanta. The Twins will open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Friday, with Connor Prielipp scheduled to start.