Now-healthy Slowey returns

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: May 8, 2008 - 12:29 AM

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CHICAGO - Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey has been sitting on an 8.10 ERA for five weeks.

Today, he finally gets a chance to change that, when he faces the White Sox in his first start since April 3.

That day, Slowey left his start against the Angels after allowing three runs in 3 1/3 innings because of a strained right biceps muscle. He went on the disabled list and made his way back with two starts for Class A Fort Myers and another for Class AAA Rochester.

"It's just exciting to be back," Slowey said. "And even more than that, it's exciting to pitch healthy. It was the first time really in my abbreviated baseball career that I've ever not felt 100 percent, and it's a miserable feeling."

Slowey, who turned 24 on Sunday, threw 84 pitches for Rochester last Thursday, when he struck out nine batters in five innings against Toledo.

Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said Slowey could throw up to 100 pitches today.

Hot-hitting Mauer sits

As expected, Mike Redmond started at catcher Wednesday, letting Joe Mauer rest, even though Mauer had hit .407 in his previous 16 games.

With a day game today, and with the Twins beginning a stretch of 40 games in 41 days, they were determined to rest Mauer in one of these final two games in Chicago.

Redmond was batting .474 (9-for-19) against White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle entering the game, compared to .267 (4-for-15) for Mauer.

Interesting note: Before that 16-game stretch began for Mauer, he was batting .238 with a .312 on-base percentage and .286 slugging percentage. Entering Wednesday, those numbers were up to .337/.409/.446.

Perkins is next

Glen Perkins is scheduled to make his first major league start Saturday after 23 career relief appearances.

He will meet the Twins in Minnesota on Friday, with a roster move announced after that night's game. Perkins went 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in seven games, including six starts for Rochester.

"The reason he's the guy is his last two outings have been outstanding," Anderson said. "Probably if you would have asked two weeks ago, we wouldn't have known because he's been very inconsistent."

Span hitting stride

In his past seven games for Rochester, Denard Span is 10-for-27, lifting his average to .333. Span has eight steals in that stretch without being caught.

In five previous pro seasons, Span never has stolen more than 25 bases. This year, he already has 14 -- three for the Twins and 11 for Rochester.

"He's taking quality at-bats, and he's been very aggressive on the bases," Rochester manager Stan Cliburn said.

Etc.

• Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had flight delays coming back from his brother's funeral in Oklahoma, and did not make it to U.S. Cellular Field for the game. He is expected to be at today's game.

• For their four-game series against Boston, starting Friday, the Twins are scheduled to face Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buch- holz.

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