The Minnesota Twins defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Target Field, completing a nine-inning win that featured a dominant start from Taj Bradley, a three-hit night from Kaelen Culpepper, and three RBI from Kody Clemens. Minnesota's bullpen hit a rough patch in the middle innings but recovered to preserve the two-run victory and hand Atlanta the loss.

Taj Bradley Sets the Table with Seven Strikeouts Over Five Innings

Bradley was sharp through the first five frames, allowing just two hits and one earned run while walking three and punching out seven Braves hitters. He kept Atlanta's offense in check long enough to give Minnesota's lineup time to build a cushion. It was the kind of performance that keeps a rotation competitive — efficient enough, and occasionally electric.

Bullpen Stumbles, Then Steadies Itself

The middle relief was where things got dicey. Kody Funderburk entered and was tagged for three earned runs on three hits in just one-third of an inning, turning a comfortable lead into a two-run game. That single stretch was the closest the Braves came to threatening a comeback.

Tommy Nance answered the call immediately after, retiring the side in one inning while striking out three batters on one hit. His effort halted Atlanta's momentum cold. From there, the bullpen got the job done:

  • A.J. Minter: 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 BB — earned the win
  • Jeff Hoffman: 1.0 IP, 3 K, 0 ER — three up, three down with punch
  • Yoendrys Gómez: 1.0 IP, 1 K, 0 ER, 0 H — locked down the save

Gómez was particularly clean in the ninth, retiring the Braves without surrendering a hit and notching the save to close out the game.

Culpepper, Clemens, and Keaschall Power Minnesota's Offense

On the offensive side, three Twins hitters stood out. Kaelen Culpepper went 3-for-4, providing a steady presence at the top of the box score. Kody Clemens contributed 2-for-4 with three RBI — the biggest offensive output of any Twin on the night. Luke Keaschall added 2-for-5 to keep the lineup from going quiet in the middle innings.

Atlanta starter AJ Smith-Shawver lasted just 4.1 innings, giving up five hits, four earned runs, and three walks before exiting. The Twins made him work from the first inning, and the early damage proved decisive. Relievers Dylan Dodd, Victor Mederos, Dylan Lee, and Ray Kerr followed, with Mederos taking the loss after surrendering a run on two hits in 1.1 innings.

Turning Point: Nance Ends Atlanta's Sixth-Inning Surge

The game's pivot came after Funderburk's rough outing opened the door for Atlanta. With the Braves suddenly within two runs and momentum shifting, Nance entered and struck out three batters across one clean inning. Minnesota never let Atlanta get closer than that two-run margin, and the Twins' offense had already done enough damage against Smith-Shawver to make it hold up.

What's Next for the Twins

Minnesota remains at Target Field as the regular season continues. The Twins will look to build on this performance with their rotation and a bullpen that, aside from Funderburk's rough stretch, showed it can slam the door when the game is on the line.