MINNEAPOLIS (AP) After a pair of
pitching duels, Atlanta's offense broke loose and powered the Braves to
another series victory.
Troy Glaus homered twice and tied a
career high with four hits to lead Atlanta past the Minnesota Twins 7-3
on Sunday.
"He's been just an unbelievable
pickup," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He just keeps swinging."
The Braves scored four runs in the
first inning and built on the lead to support Kris Medlen. Atlanta took
two of three in an interleague series between division leaders, a
rematch of the thrilling 1991 World Series won by Minnesota in seven
games.
After struggling early in the season,
the Braves have won or tied their last 12 series since dropping two of
three games to Washington from May 4-6. Atlanta is 14-6 over the last 20
games, all played without an off day.
"It was a tough stretch, but it's our
job to win ballgames," Glaus said. "Nobody's going to feel sorry for
us."
Making his 11th major league start,
Medlen (4-1) tossed a career-high eight innings and held the Twins
scoreless until Delmon Young's three-run homer with two outs in the
seventh.
The Twins didn't get a hit off Medlen
until Jason Kubel lined a double with one out in the fifth. The
right-hander allowed four hits and struck out five.
"They threw a guy out there today that
did everything right," Twins shortstop Trevor Plouffe said.
Tim Hudson lost the series opener 2-1
and Derek Lowe started the next day, a 3-2 win for the Braves. The
early offense Sunday helped Medlen settle in and attack a Twins lineup
missing its two starting middle infielders.
"Lowe and Hudson were calling me a
run hog today," Medlen said. "Any time you get the offense swinging like
they did early, it gives you the confidence to go out there and just
start throwing strikes."
Glaus, who had three RBIs, hit his
13th and 14th home runs in consecutive at-bats in the fifth and seventh.
It was the 29th multihomer game of his career and first since Aug. 9,
2008.
The slugger played only 14 games for
St. Louis last season because of shoulder surgery and did not hit a home
run. He signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Braves
during the offseason.
Glaus hit just .194 in April, but got
rolling in May. Since May 1, he leads the NL with 40 RBIs. His batting
average has improved to .290.
Martin Prado homered in the second
and had three hits, raising his season total to an NL-best 90.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire gave
center fielder and leadoff hitter Denard Span his first day off this
season. Michael Cuddyer got his first start at center in Target Field
and Nick Punto hit leadoff.
Twins starter Kevin Slowey (7-4)
entered with a three-game win streak and a 0.64 ERA in June. After
allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits in 4 2-3 innings, the
right-hander's win streak is over and his June ERA stands at 2.89.
Despite a solid 3.84 ERA, Slowey has
failed to pitch past the fifth inning in nine of his 13 starts.
"It's disappointing to go out there
and feel like you put your team behind the 8-ball right away," Slowey
said. "Even in that inning I felt like I made some good pitches."
Atlanta took the final two games from
the Twins despite playing without third baseman Chipper Jones. He was a
late scratch from Saturday's game and sat out Sunday with an injured
right ring finger. He is day to day.
Jason Heyward started the Braves'
four-run first with a broken-bat RBI double down the right-field line.
"Any time you break a guy's bat, you
don't expect it to go that far," Slowey said.
Glaus singled to drive in Heyward,
and Eric Hinske's double scored Brian McCann. Glaus scored the first of
his three runs on Punto's error trying to throw out Hinske at second.
Sunday's win was the perfect way to
end a season-long 11-game road trip for Atlanta. Since May 18, the
Braves are 19-7.
Several players have stepped up
during the recent run. Brooks Conrad filled in at third base for Jones
on Saturday and delivered the winning suicide squeeze bunt in the ninth.
Medlen continues to pitch well in the absence of Jair Jurrjens, and
Glaus is on a roll.
"That's what good teams do," Hinske
said. "Everyone gets prepared to step up when needed and win ballgames.
You're seeing that happen with us because everyone understands what
needs to be done to compete."
Young's home run extended his hitting
streak to 10 games. He has 13 RBIs during the streak and is second on
the Twins with 43.
NOTES: Twins 2B Orlando Hudson took
batting practice and hopes to return from a sprained left wrist on
Tuesday. … Braves infielder Omar Infante remains out after fouling a
ball off the top of his right foot Friday. Infante will likely miss the
next two or three games. … Twins RHP Clay Condrey, who has yet to
pitch this season because of an elbow injury, went to Florida to get
some work in extended spring training. … Twins pitching coach Rick
Anderson missed the game to attend his daughter's high school
graduation.