Twins top Braves on early homer, double

Josh Bell hit a two-run home run and Ryan Jeffers drove in two runs with a double as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Tuesday night at Target Field, taking the first two games of their three-game series. The victory gave the Twins the chance to complete a series sweep in Wednesday afternoon's finale.

Bell's home run, his 17th of the season, provided an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and was the offensive catalyst for Minnesota. With two outs in the inning, Ryan Jeffers hit a double to right-center field, and Bell followed by hammering a 1-1 splitter 434 feet to right-center. The Twins would add insurance runs in the eighth inning when Jeffers delivered a two-run double off reliever Didier Fuentes to score Kaelen Culpepper and pinch-hitter Byron Buxton.

Starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (7-8) earned the win for the Twins, allowing one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four batters in his third consecutive victory. Closer Yoendrys Gomez secured his 19th save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

The Braves managed their only run in the top of the sixth inning when Drake Baldwin hit a solo home run to left-center...