• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Slowey, Twins welcome Braves

Jun 12, 2007 - 1:32 PM Atlanta (35-29) at Minnesota (30-31) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins and their rookie starter host the Atlanta Braves in a tough interleague series beginning Tuesday.

Kevin Slowey (1-0, 4.09 ERA) earned his first win last Wednesday, but he was shaky, yielding five runs - four earned - and 10 hits in five innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The vaunted control artist walked just five batters in 64 1/3 innings at Class AAA Rochester before his callup, and did not issue a walk against the Angels.

Slowey may have to contend with Braves' All-Star slugger Chipper Jones, who is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's game and could start at designated hitter.

Jones was hitting .300 with a team-leading 12 homers and 27 RBI when he injured his thumb on a botched slide into third base May 23 against the Mets.

The Braves will counter with Kyle Davies (3-4, 5.31). The 23-year-old righthander has long been one of Atlanta's top prospects, but has struggled with consistency over parts of the past three seasons.

Davies' last five starts have yielded run totals of six, one, eight, one and five. He has lost three of the five outings.

With the Mets' (36-26) loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, the Braves have pulled back within two games of the National League East lead.