ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves clinched a three-game sweep over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday with a decisive 6-2 victory. Key performances from Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin, who each hit two-run home runs, propelled the Braves to their win. Meanwhile, Grant Holmes delivered an impressive performance on the mound, conceding just one run.
Additionally, Marcell Ozuna showcased his batting skills with a home run off Joe Ryan, who struggled throughout the game. Ryan, with a record of 1-3, found difficulty against the Braves as he allowed six runs on eight hits over five innings, including one walk. Byron Buxton contributed two hits for Minnesota, one being a solo home run shot off Enyel De Los Santos.
The Braves managed to pull together a winning streak for the first time this season as they completed the sweep of the Twins—a feat achieved with Alex Verdugo playing a pivotal role in the lineup. Verdugo proved his worth with a noteworthy performance, collecting a total of four hits over the three games, including two doubles. He was instrumental in Saturday night’s win, driving in the go-ahead run with a hit.
Grant Holmes (2-1), instrumental in holding the lead, finished his outing with an impressive stat line: 5 2/3 innings, conceding just four hits, and delivering seven strikeouts coupled with four walks. The offensive burst from the Braves was notably marked by the decisive first inning. After Ozuna drew a walk with two outs, Olson capitalized by launching his third home run to center field. Baldwin extended the lead with his two-run homer in the third inning.
Looking ahead, the Braves are set to open a new series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, with right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (1-1, 2.55 ERA) scheduled to start against Cardinals’ Erick Fedde (1-2, 3.43 ERA). Meanwhile, the Twins will have a day of rest on Monday before hosting a home series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli mentioned the possible return of Pablo López from the injured list, noting his “solid outing” for Triple-A St. Paul, which could influence the rotation decisions later in the week.