Twins Stop the Bleeding: Bell's Early Blast Fuels 4-2 Statement Win Over Braves

MINNEAPOLIS — Forget the Monday morning quarterbacking. The Twins had a five-run lead evaporate on Sunday and got swept by Philly. So what did they do Tuesday night? They came out swinging like a team with something to prove.

Josh Bell ripped a two-run double down the right-field line in a four-run first inning, and the Minnesota bullpen made it hold up in a nail-biting 4-2 win over the Braves.

Fast Start, Big Statement

The first six Braves hitters? Wait, no — the first six Twins batters reached base against Atlanta starter Martín Pérez. The first four guys in the order all came around to score. Bell's flare hugged the chalk, bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double. Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens followed with RBI singles, and just like that, Minnesota had all the runs they'd need.

Bullpen Bends, Doesn't Break

Bailey Ober gutted through 4 1/3 innings, but Ronald Acuña Jr. said 'not today' with a two-run single that chased him. Enter Taylor Rogers, who slammed the door on lefties Matt Olson and Michael Harris II to kill the threat.

Travis Adams (3-0) was flat-out filthy — two perfect innings, three strikeouts. Jeff Hoffman navigated a jam in the eighth, thanks in part to a ridiculous diving stop by Clemens on a Harris rocket. And Yoendrys Gómez walked the leadoff man in the ninth, but slammed the door for his 17th straight save.

Pérez's Streak Goes Poof

Martín Pérez entered the night with 18 straight scoreless innings. He left with nine hits, two walks and a loss. Baseball is ruthless.

Next up: Zebby Matthews (6-8, 5.34) vs. Tyler Mahle (4-9, 4.64) in the series finale. Buckle up.