Atlanta @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2010 ) Atlanta 4, Arizona 7
Stephen Drew had been in a slump in which his average dropped 25 points. He also injured a finger on his throwing hand that kept him from playing in the field on Sunday.
But the perfect tonic was awaiting the Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop when he arrived at the ballpark on Monday – Atlanta Braves pitcher Derek Lowe.
Drew got his bat going with two hits and four RBIs against Lowe in Arizona’s victory in the opening game of the series. He will look to keep the production going on Tuesday when the Diamondbacks and Braves meet in the second of the four-game set in Phoenix.
Drew raised his career batting average against Lowe to an even .500 and his 2010 season average to .289. Arizona’s No. 3 hitter was in a 5-for-32 rut (.156) entering the contest.
Drew had been hitting .310 before his recent slump. His splurge against Lowe raised his RBIs count to 24 and he has a solid shot of topping his career-best total of 67, set in 2008.
The victory was Arizona’s third in four contests following a horrid 10-game losing streak. The Diamondbacks will look to keep the victories coming by sending Edwin Jackson to the mound on Tuesday.
Jackson (3-6) has pitched well in each of his last two starts but the Diamondbacks were blanked both times. He was especially good in his most recent outing when he pitched nine shutout innings and scattered three hiys against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately for him, Arizona dropped a 1-0 setback in 14 innings.
Acquired from Detroit in an offseason trade, Jackson has a 5.33 ERA in 13 starts. He has struck out 34 hitters over his last four starts, beginning with a career-best 12 strikeouts against the Florida Marlins on May 17.
Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones could return to action Tuesday after missing the last five games with a finger injury.
Jones hasn’t been his typical All-Star force this season but still is a dangerous hitter. He’s batting .240 with three homers and 21 RBIs.
Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in Monday’s loss after replacing center field Nate McLouth (toe) shortly before game time. Cabrera, hitting .300 lifetime against Jackson, figures to be in Tuesday’s lineup.
Chris Medlen starts for Atlanta and he has fared well since moving into the starting rotation.
Medlen (3-1, 2.79 ERA) has won back-to-back starts and has allowed two earned runs or less in three of his past four outings.
Tuesday’s start will be his sixth of the season and 10th of his career. Medlen, a 24-year-old right-hander, has struck out 36 and walked just nine in 48 1/3 innings.
Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds hit his 13th homer of the season on Monday. It was his first since May 26.