The Atlanta Braves powered past the Minnesota Twins with a 10-6 victory on Monday night, thanks to Matt Olson’s three-run homer and two-run double in the first two innings against Bailey Ober, before the game was delayed by a thunderstorm.
Max Fried (8-7) picked up his first win since June 23, maintaining his composure through an 86-minute rain delay. He retired 12 consecutive batters across the rain interruption and completed five innings, allowing only one earned run.
Travis d’Arnaud added a two-run homer, and Marcell Ozuna contributed two runs and two RBIs for Atlanta. Ober’s impressive streak of 11 consecutive quality starts ended abruptly, as the Braves scored four runs before he could record an out.
Whit Merrifield, filling in for the injured Michael Harris II, went 5-for-5, starting the game with a single. Olson followed with his 23rd homer, a 423-foot blast into the second deck, though he trails his previous season’s 54-homer pace. In his last 16 games, Olson has tallied 17 RBIs, 12 runs, five homers, and five doubles.
Despite severe weather warnings sounding during the first inning, the Braves managed to score five more runs before the downpour forced a delay in the second inning. Ober, who had posted a 2.09 ERA over his last 11 starts, threw 55 pitches before the game was paused, and manager Rocco Baldelli turned to the bullpen when play resumed.
Ober’s outing was cut short as the Braves kept the pressure on, reaching base five times in a row during the second inning before the storm hit.
Fried later allowed two unearned runs in the fifth but ended the inning by striking out Royce Lewis, stranding two runners. Fried finished with seven strikeouts, no walks, and only one extra-base hit allowed.
The Braves (71-60) continue to display remarkable resilience despite significant injuries to key players, including 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. They remain six games behind NL East-leading Philadelphia but hold a three-game lead over the New York Mets for the final NL wild card spot.
The Twins (72-59) lost their sixth game out of the last eight but gained ground in the AL Central race as Cleveland was swept in a doubleheader by Kansas City. Minnesota now trails Cleveland by 2½ games while holding a five-game lead over Boston for the final AL wild card spot.
Matt Wallner hit a late homer for the Twins, who are now 16-22 in interleague play this season.
Injury Updates:
– Braves: Michael Harris II started on the bench due to a bruised left hand from a pitch on Sunday but entered the game in the sixth inning.
– Twins: Max Kepler remained on the bench with left knee soreness, though an MRI revealed no significant damage.
Next Game:
The Braves will send RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (5-6, 3.94 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday night, facing Twins RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (5-3, 3.69 ERA).
