Rookie pinch hitter Drake Baldwin broke a tie with a two-run single to cap a five-run eighth-inning rally, giving the Atlanta Braves a 6-4 win over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Atlanta has won nine straight games against Minnesota, a streak that began Aug. 5, 2019.
Trailing 4-1, the Braves rallied in the eighth against reliever Griffin Jax (0-2). With one out, Marcell Ozuna walked, went to third on Matt Olson’s single and scored when Ozzie Albies beat out an infield hit. Sean Murphy walked to load the bases and left for pinch runner Eli White.
Cole Sands took over on the mound and allowed a two-run single to Michael Harris II that tied the game. Baldwin followed with a single to center that drove in the two go-ahead runs.
Atlanta’s comeback ruined a fine effort from Minnesota starter Chris Paddack, who pitched five innings and allowed one run on three hits and one walk with a season-high six strikeouts.
Braves starter Bryce Elder worked five innings and permitted four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out three. Atlanta followed with four perfect innings. Enyel De Los Santos (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings to earn the win, and Raisel Iglesias handled the ninth for his third save.
The Twins scored twice in the second inning when Ryan Jeffers drove in a run with a double, then scored when Luke Keaschall singled in his first major league at-bat.
Minnesota made it 3-0 in the third inning when Trevor Larnach launched a 407-foot solo homer, his first, over the brick wall in right field.
The Twins tacked on another run in the fourth inning when Edouard Julien hit a sacrifice fly that was deep enough to score Keaschall, who had doubled.
Atlanta cut the deficit to 4-1 in the fifth inning when Jarred Kelenic hit a changeup 418 feet to center field for his second homer of the season.
