The solution to a struggling offense typically isn’t the addition of a pitcher to the batting order. Unfortunately, Minnesota had to insert their pitchers into the lineup for interleague play in Atlanta Monday night.
The result was another enemic effort at the plate in a 5-1 loss to the Braves in Atlanta — the sixth consecutive loss for the Twins.
Give Braves starter Julio Teheran plenty of credit. The electric right-hander allowed just five hits in 8 1/3 innings pitched.
The only run he allowed came on a solo home run from Josh Willingham in the ninth inning.
Kevin Correia allowed five runs on eight hits over four innings before being pulled after throwing just 75 pitches. It’s the third time in four starts he’s pitched five innings or less.
Most of the damage was done by the Braves in the first inning. Freddy Freeman started the scoring with an RBI single, and Dan Uggla followed with a three-run homer.
Minnesota hasn’t had a starting pitch pitch five innings in four of the last five games.
The lone bright spot for the Twins came from Caleb Thielbar, who pitched two shutout innings after being called up from AAA Rochester earlier Monday. He walked one and struck out three.
That’s six straight losses for the Twins, who continue their series in Atlanta Tuesday night.
