Freeman, Braves Beat Twins 9-7 For 2-Game Sweep
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered, doubled and tied a career high with five RBIs as the Atlanta Braves held off the Minnesota Twins 9-7 Wednesday night for a two-game sweep.
Freeman went 4 for 4 with a walk, driving in five runs for the fifth time in his career. His 18th homer gave the Braves a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning.
The Twins closed to 8-7 in the sixth on an RBI grounder by Joe Mauer. Nick Markakis singled home a run in the Atlanta eighth.
Mike Foltynewicz (4-4) got the win despite giving up seven runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Tyler Duffey (5-8) was chased in the second.
Atlanta and Minnesota entered the series with the two worst records in the majors. The Braves are 35-66, the Twins are 37-63.
The Braves are now 9-5 in regular-season matchups against the team it lost to in the 1991 World Series.
Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run homer during a four-run first for Atlanta. Freeman added a two-run homer in the fourth off Michael Tonkin.
A day after getting shut out, the Twins scored in the fourth on a double by Eddie Rosario. Kurt Suzuki added a two-run homer later in the inning.
BRAVES MAKE A DEAL
Prior to the game, Atlanta dealt right-hander Lucas Harrell and left-hander Dario Alvarez to the Texas Rangers for infield prospect Travis Demeritte.
Demeritte, 21, represented the United States in this month's All-Star Futures Game in San Diego. In 88 games with High A High Desert, he batted .272 with 25 home runs and 59 RBI.
In five starts with the Braves this year, Harrell was 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA. Alvarez made 16 relief appearances this season for Atlanta and had a 3.00 ERA in 15 innings.
UP NEXT
Braves: Return to Atlanta to begin a four-game series against Philadelphia beginning Thursday. Right-hander Matt Wisler (4-10, 4.92 ERA) will start for the Braves.
Twins: Host Baltimore on Thursday for a makeup of a game that was rained out on May 9. Right-hander Kyle Gibson (3-6, 4.67) starts for Minnesota.
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