Twins lose 6-0 to Braves for first defeat of spring training

The Minnesota Twins (2-1) tallied five hits in a seven-inning 6-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, signaling the club’s first defeat of spring training.

Hits from outfielders Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Keon Broxton, shortstop JT Riddle and catcher Willians Astudillo failed to inflict any sort of damage against Atlanta’s six-man pitching rotation.

The Braves jumped out to an early 2-0 lead — courtesy of 2020 Silver Slugger winner Travis d’Arnaud’s two-run shot over the left-field fence in the bottom-half of the first inning.

Twins starting pitcher Charlie Barnes bounced back and kept Atlanta off the stat sheet in the second inning. But the Braves managed to pile on four more total runs in innings three and five.

Minnesota’s Danny Coulombe struggled mightily, surrendering four hits and a pair of runs before escaping the third inning. Ian Gibaut, an 11th-round pick by Minnesota in 2015, capped off a forgetful day in the Grapefruit League for the Twins, allowing a trio of hits and two more batters to cross home plate before nabbing three outs in the fifth.

The Twins return to action Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. to take on the Boston Red Sox. The game will be televised on FOX Sports North.