Braves crush Twins starter Bailey Ober before storm delay, then win 10-6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Matt Olson hit a three-run homer and a two-run double for Atlanta in the first two innings off Bailey Ober before the game was stopped by a thunderstorm, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Minnesota Twins 10-6 on Monday night.

Max Fried (8-7) endured the 86-minute delay for his first win since June 23, retiring 12 consecutive batters over a stretch despite rain and finishing five innings with one earned run allowed.

Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run home run and Marcell Ozuna had two runs and two RBIs for the Braves, who ended Ober’s streak of 11 straight quality starts with four runs before he recorded an out.

Whit Merrifield, replacing the injured Michael Harris II in the leadoff spot, went 5 for 5 and led off the game with a single. Three batters later, Ober (12-6) launched an 0-2 home run that Olson drove 423 feet into the second deck over right-center field for his 23rd home run.

Olson is off the 54-homer pace he led baseball with last season, but in his last 16 games he has 17 RBIs, 12 runs, five homers and five doubles.

The weather sirens began to wail midway through the first inning, but unfortunately for Ober, the Braves managed to score five more runs before the downpour began, towels and wrappers fell from the upper deck and the grounds crew rushed the tarp onto the infield midway through the second.

Ober, who had gone at least six innings and allowed three or fewer runs in his last 11 innings for a 2.09 ERA and eight Twins wins, threw 55 pitches and made manager Rocco Baldelli’s decision to go to the bullpen after the game resumed easy.

The 6-foot-9 right-hander, who has become an ace for a rotation thinned by injuries and now filled with three rookies, got two outs in the second inning before the Braves took more batting practice with five straight men on base.

Fried allowed two unearned runs in the fifth inning before striking out Royce Lewis to end the inning and leaving runners on the corners. After struggling in his return from a forearm injury following the All-Star break, Fried got off to his second straight good start with seven strikeouts and no walks and just one extra-base hit allowed on a Manny Margot double to lead off the first inning.

The resilience of the Braves (71-60) has been remarkable, considering five of their eight All-Star selections from last year had their seasons ended or ruined by injuries, starting with 2023 National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr.

Atlanta kept pace with National League East leader Philadelphia, which is six games behind and has a six-game division title streak in decline. The Braves, however, have a three-game lead over the New York Mets for the third and final National League wild card.

The Twins (72-59) actually gained ground on American League Central leader Cleveland despite their sixth loss in the last eight games, as the Guardians (75-57) were swept in a doubleheader by Kansas City. The Royals moved to within one game, and the Twins, who lead Boston by five games for the final American League wild card, are now 2½ games behind Cleveland.

Matt Wallner hit a game-ending home run for the Twins, who opened their third straight interleague series and fell to 16-22 against their National League opponents.

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Braves: Harris started on the bench with a bruised left hand after being hit by a pitch that forced him out of the game Sunday, but he entered in the sixth inning.

Twins: RF Max Kepler was benched again with left knee soreness that led to him being scratched from the lineup Sunday, but an MRI showed no damage, just wear and tear.

“We’re going to need him to play,” Badlelli said, referring to the 31 games remaining in the regular season.

FOLLOWING

The Braves were scheduled to send right-handed pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (5-6, 3.94 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night against Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (5-3, 3.69 ERA).

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