Tyler Mahle pitches well, but Braves’ bats go cold in loss to Twins

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Josh Bell hit a two-run homer, Ryan Jeffers drove in Minnesota’s other two runs, and the Twins beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Bell hit his 17th home run of the year over the right-center field wall in the first inning to give the Twins a 2-0 lead. Jeffers added a two-run double in the eighth inning that plated Kaelen Culpepper and Byron Buxton as the Twins took the first two games of the three-game series.

Zebby Matthews (7-8) tossed 5.2 innings for Minnesota, allowing one run on five hits while striking out four. Yoendrys Gómez worked a scoreless ninth for his 19th save of the season.

Drake Baldwin scored Atlanta’s run in the sixth inning on a home run to left-center field.

Tyler Mahle (4-10) worked 6.2 frames and gave up two runs on six hits. Dylan Dodd and Didier Fuentes both allowed a run in 0.2 innings as well.

AJ Smith-Shawver squares off against Taj Bradley in the series finale on Wednesday.

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