Baldelli, Twins find plenty of positives despite struggling to solve Braves

ATLANTA -- Despite Minnesota’s continued frustrations against the Braves, manager Rocco Baldelli and the Twins had a positive outlook after Saturday’s 4-3 loss against Atlanta at Truist Park.

Despite reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale struggling -- he lasted just 4 1/3 innings, walked three and gave up six hits -- the Twins mustered just two runs against him. But Baldelli still admired his team’s fight.

“We lost the game and obviously we’re not getting the outcomes that we want,” he said. “Our guys played their butts off out there tonight. When you go on an individual basis and look up and down and see what all the guys in the clubhouse did in that game -- the way we pitched and the way we competed in those at-bats against [Sale] -- it’s about as good as it gets. We grinded.

“We couldn’t overtake them tonight, but the way we went about our business, you’re going to win a lot of games playing like that. I understand that’s not the goal. The goal is to win the game.”

The Twins struck out 13 times, went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.

Minnesota used right-handed pitcher Justin Topa as an opener in a bullpen game. Topa allowed an earned run in his one inning of work before he gave way to Simeon Woods Richardson in the second inning.

Woods Richardson, who was originally scheduled to start the game, allowed three earned runs on seven hits, and he tallied three strikeouts and one walk in 4 1/3 innings.

“When you flip your starter in and put him in the middle of the lineup, he’s going to face the bottom of the order three times,” Baldelli said. “He did. He did his job. He went out there and did what we asked him to do today. We put him in this situation and he went out and pitched [well] in the exact spot we asked him to pitch.”

Braves center fielder Michael Harris II hit a game-tying 446-foot home run to lead off the sixth inning, before Nick Allen and Jarred Kelenic hit back-to-back singles. Woods Richardson was pulled after that, but was happy with his outing.

“I think that’s my main goal any time I touch the mound is to just give my team a fighting chance to win,” Woods Richardson said. “I say it over and over again, but that’s truly one of my biggest things I try to do as a competitor and as a teammate.”

Woods Richardson was pulled in favor of Brock Stewart -- who was activated from the 15-day IL prior to the game -- and was greeted by Alex Verdugo's RBI single that turned out to be the game-winner.

“I think honestly it’s a pretty good spot to bring Brock in,” Baldelli said. “I thought he looked good physically. … In that situation, sometimes you’re going to throw the ball well and still give up a run. The way he came in and threw the ball, I think it’s very encouraging watching his pitches.”

Center fielder Byron Buxton had a strong night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple and a sacrifice fly. The sacrifice fly came with runners on first and third, had an exit velocity of 104 miles per hour and traveled 378 feet, but Harris ran it down at the warning track.

“[He’s my] nemesis,” Buxton said. “It’ll start falling. He’s a great outfielder out there. He plays the position well. He made some plays.”

Minnesota also got a promising sign from Carlos Correa, who tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning with his first home run of the season.

The Twins had trouble getting Verdugo out; Atlanta’s leadoff hitter went 4-for-5 with two singles, two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored.

The Braves have won 10 straight games against the Twins dating back to 2019.

“It’s not something that you can really make sense of,” Baldelli said. “You gotta go out there and compete and continue playing good baseball. … I don’t have anything specific on that. That’s something that comes up in this game every once in a while.”