MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Troy Glaus homered twice and tied a career high with four hits to power the Atlanta Braves past the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Sunday.
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.
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 to right field with one out in the fifth. The right-hander allowed four hits and struck out five.
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.
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 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.
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. The Braves are off on Monday, their first day off in three weeks.
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 during Friday's game. 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.
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