Tuesday’s Twins-Atlanta game recap

Adonis Garcia doubled ahead of Francoeur’s two-run blast over the center-field fence for a 4-0 lead.

Minnesota’s bullpen was well-rested after Santana’s complete game Tuesday.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Braves have struggled to score runs this year, ranking last in the majors in that department.

350 during his current six-game hitting streak, but the Braves offense is sputtering while averaging 2.8 runs in 10 games since the All-Star break.TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), FSN North (Minnesota)PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Lucas Harrell (1-2, 4.24 ERA) vs. Twins RH Ervin Santana (3-8, 3.93)Harrell has gone from minor-league free agent to potential trade deadline candidate in two short months after showing stability in his first four major-league starts since 2014.

“It was nice to see that, nice to get on board early”, Freeman said. The Braves have stumbled this year and while many expected them to be firmly in the basement of the NL East they haven’t been able to generate much in terms of consistency and continue to be a disappointment even though they didn’t have much hype. That’s all we needed tonight. In the 5th, Eduardo Nunez led off with a single and moved to 3rd on a double from Joe Mauer, and with three infielders to the left of 2nd base, Miguel Sano bounced a 2-2 fastball from Foltynewicz to the empty right side of the infield for a two-run single.

Jim Johnson closed it out for the second straight night, and the Braves had consecutive wins over the same foe for the first time since sweeping the New York Mets June 17-19 at Citi Field.

Hard-throwing righty Mauricio Cabrera also played a big role out of Atlanta’s bullpen. The right-hander was lifted after just 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, eight hits and a walk. Duffey walked one and didn’t record a strikeout in the abbreviated outing.

“He’s been really good”, Snitker said.

Twins starter Tyler Duffey (5-8) was chased in the second.

Tomas drove in five runs and was one of four Diamondbacks batters to finish with two hits. “Watching a game like that, we come back fighting like that, end up losing, and it started with me”.

Jeff Francoeur also homered as Atlanta took both games of a two-game series.

It was quite different from the snappy shutout victory the Atlanta Braves enjoyed the prior evening, but the visitors prevailed once more, 9-7 over the Twins.

Molitor, who was playing for Milwaukee at the time, had seats at the Metrodome near the first-base dugout for Games 6 and 7 of the 1991 World Series.

Freeman’s two-run shot to center field in the fourth extended the Braves’ lead to 7-0. He is hitting. 252 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 58 games this season.

A day after getting shut out, the Twins scored in the fourth on a double by Eddie Rosario.

C Kurt Suzuki returned to the lineup after missing one game because of a cut on his chin that required eight stitches.

“We pecked away at them, got back into the game”, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.