ATLANTA (AP) — Alex Verdugo, making his second start as Atlanta’s left fielder and leadoff hitter, had four hits that included a go-ahead single in the sixth inning, and the Braves beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Saturday night for their first back-to-back wins of the season.
Verdugo was to help boost a slumping offense after signing a on March 20. He had two doubles and scored two runs.
The Braves (7-13) have won the first two games of the series against Minnesota (7-14) as they try to recover from an 0-7 start. Atlanta has won 10 consecutive games against the Twins dating to 2019.
Twins right-hander Justin Topa, making his following 102 relief appearances, allowed one run in one inning.
Minnesota rookie , who had two hits in his major league debut on Friday night, delivered a run-scoring double off Chris Sale in the first. Sale allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Carlos Correa’s off Sale in the fourth was his first of the season.
Twins right fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. left the game in the fourth with a bruised left hand. Manager Rocco Baldelli said the hand was not broken and Keirsey is likely to be available after a few days.
Pierce Johnson (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning. Raisel Iglesias earned his fourth save with a perfect ninth.
Minnesota went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (1-2), who replaced Topa, faded in the sixth when he lost a 3-2 lead. Michael Harris II led off with a homer that carried 446 feet to right field. Richardson gave up two singles before Brock Stewart gave up Verdugo’s single to right field that gave Atlanta the lead.
Verdugo has a .357 career batting average against the Twins (40 for 112).
In a matchup of right-handers, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan (1-1, 2.45) will face Atlanta’s Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.78) in Sunday’s finale of the interleague series.
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