Kritik und Lob » n 10 starts, the right-hander has allowed 17 runs an

ATLANTA - Evan Gattis no longer seems amazed by his improbable rookie season. Yet, there are still times when its a bit of an adjustment for the Atlanta Braves catcher. Like when someone recognizes him in the grocery store. "Its a little weird," the 26-year-old Gattis said. "Im not used to that yet." Gattis did it again Wednesday, hitting his first career grand slam. B.J. Upton and Ramiro Pena also homered for the Braves, who finished off a sweep of the woeful Minnesota Twins with an 8-3 rout. The Braves stretched their winning streak to six games with a second straight series sweep, making things easy for starter Paul Maholm (6-4). The left-hander held the Twins to an unearned run in 7 1-3 innings. With the Braves already leading 4-0, Gattis struck again less than 24 hours after his two-out, pinch-homer in the ninth allowed the Braves to pull out a 5-4 win over the Twins in extra innings. "Its legend," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Good for him. The guys really rally around him and enjoy being around him." Gattis was swinging away on a 3-0 pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth and launched an opposite-field drive just inside the right-field pole for his 10th homer of the season. As Gattis rounded the bases, the theme from "The Natural" played over the speakers at Turner Field. In the Atlanta dugout, Upton looked on in disbelief, both arms in the air as if to say, "Is this really happening?" Believe it. Gattis made the team as a non-roster player in spring training after quitting baseball during college, working a variety of odd jobs, and dealing with bouts of depression that had him contemplating suicide. He still has a picture of his ID card from working as a janitor on his Twitter page. He returned to baseball after nearly four years away, having completed what he calls a spiritual journey. He earned a roster spot and got extensive playing time in April while the Braves battled injuries, earning the NL rookie of the month honours. Now, with all the regulars back in the lineup, hes making the most of his more limited chances in May. There was one stumble on the day, however. After Cory Rasmus, making his major league debut, got his first strikeout, Gattis flipped the ball to a little girl in the stands. "Weve got to teach him a little more court awareness," Gonzalez quipped. Not surprisingly, Gattis teammates were ragging him about the faux pas in the clubhouse. "I wasnt even thinking about it," he said, shaking his head. "I dont know what to say." Gattis dramatic homer Tuesday was his third as a pinch-hitter, and it was the fourth time hes hit a tying or go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later. He got the start at catcher for the series finale, giving Brian McCann the day off. "I love this team," Gattis said. "All of our pitchers, relievers, everybody in the whole lineup, we all contribute, weve all got roles, weve all got things we do to help this team. Its a good feeling right now in the clubhouse. Were playing good baseball." The Twins, not so much. They lost their eighth in a row and demoted starting pitcher Vance Worley to the minors right after the game. Worley (1-5) lasted only 3 2-3 innings, surrendering eight runs and 10 hits. He also hit two batters and walked two more, his ERA climbing to 7.21. It would have been worse if Pena had not been thrown out at the plate in the first attempting to score on a flyout to left fielder Josh Willingham. "I went out there and I left the ball up just a little bit. My ERAs killing me. Its hard to win a game if youre behind," said Worley, who was sent to Triple-A Rochester. "They havent seen what Im capable of doing ever since I got here. Its been a battle and Ive just got to figure it out. This whole spring up to this point, I havent been consistent whatsoever." Before leaving, Worleys horrendous problems in the first continued when he allowed two hits and a walk, including Jason Heywards run-scoring single. In 10 starts, the right-hander has allowed 17 runs and 24 hits in the opening inning. Atlanta made it 3-0 in the third. Pena hit his second homer of the season and, after Worley plunked a pair of hitters, Chris Johnson came through with a two-out single to bring in another run. The Braves blew it open in the fourth. Upton, hitting just .153 coming in, led off with a homer into the seats in left-centre. After Maholms flyout, Jordan Schafer singled, Heyward singled, Freddie Freeman walked and Gattis went deep to finish off Worley and the Twins. "He said he felt good. The ball was coming out of his hand pretty decent," manager Ron Gardenhire said of his pitcher. "We saw some fastballs at 92, 93. But ultimately, he misfires too much over the plate and you see the ball flying. And thats what happened today. When he gets the ball up, they whack it pretty good." Minnesotas only run off Maholm came after Johnsons error at third base set up Justin Morneaus RBI single in the sixth. Aaron Hicks and pinch-hit