The Atlanta Braves dropped a 4-2 decision to the Minnesota Twins on Monday, August 17, 2026, at Target Field. Martín Pérez couldn't hold the Twins' lineup in check, surrendering four earned runs on nine hits over five innings, and Atlanta's offense mustered just two runs against a Minnesota bullpen that ultimately shut the door. The loss goes in the books as a straight-up defeat — the Twins were the better team on this night.

Martín Pérez Absorbs the Loss After Rough Five Innings

Pérez took the loss after a taxing outing. The lefthander went five innings, giving up nine hits and two walks while striking out just three. Four earned runs crossed the plate against him, which proved to be more than Atlanta's lineup could overcome. When Minnesota hangs nine hits on a starting pitcher in five innings, runs are going to score — and they did.

The Braves bullpen kept things relatively clean after Pérez departed. Victor Mederos threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout. Tyler Kinley added 0.2 innings with a strikeout and no earned runs. Ray Kerr worked 1.1 innings, allowing one hit but no runs. The relief corps did its job — the damage was already done by the time they arrived.

Minnesota's Offense Did Enough Damage Early

On the other side, Twins starter Bailey Ober went 4.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts. He wasn't dominant, but he didn't need to be. The Minnesota bullpen took it from there and went on to strand Atlanta's offense.

Travis Adams was the story out of the Minnesota bullpen. The right-hander threw two perfect innings, striking out three Braves batters and allowing nothing — zero hits, zero walks, zero runs. He earned the win for his effort. Yoendrys Gómez closed it out with a scoreless ninth to pick up the save, walking one but keeping the Braves off the board.

Minnesota Bats: Bell and Clemens Deliver the Key Blows

Three Twins hitters stood out in the boxscore:

  • Josh Bell went 2-for-3 with two RBI, providing the most direct damage of any Minnesota hitter on the night.
  • Kody Clemens added a 2-for-4 performance with one RBI, chipping in to extend the Twins' lead.
  • Luke Keaschall collected two hits in five at-bats, staying productive at the top of the order.

Atlanta's Lone Highlight: Drake Baldwin's Multi-Hit Night

Atlanta's offensive output was limited, but Drake Baldwin gave the Braves something to build on. The catcher went 2-for-5 on the evening, the only Atlanta batter to register multiple hits. It wasn't enough, and the rest of the lineup couldn't generate the kind of consistent contact needed to keep pace with Minnesota's four-run total.

Turning Point: Adams Shuts the Door When Braves Had a Chance

When Travis Adams entered the game and ran through two innings without allowing a baserunner, he effectively ended Atlanta's realistic path back into it. Three strikeouts across those two frames was dominant relief work, and it kept the two-run margin intact at a point in the game when the Braves needed to start closing the gap. That two-inning stretch was the moment the game was decided.

What's Next for the Braves

Atlanta will look to respond in the next game of this series against Minnesota. Pérez's rough outing puts a little pressure on the next starter to stabilize the rotation. The offense will need to find ways to generate more than two runs — particularly against quality bullpen arms, which Minnesota demonstrated it has available. The Braves have the pieces to bounce back, but this was a game they needed to perform better in and didn't.