"If the tumult of the past few days had any effect on his performance, Braves pitcher Derek Lowe wasn't about to say so. Or even entertain the question.

He gave up three runs in the first inning Sunday against St. Louis, less than 72 hours after being arrested and charged with DUI and racing his Porsche down Peachtree Road in Buckhead.

Lowe and Braves officials said they never considered not starting him Sunday. He allowed four hits to the first five batters he faced, including consecutive one-out doubles by Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman that drove in three runs.

Lowe retired 11 of the next 12 batters and lasted five innings, surrendering six hits, four runs and two walks with five strikeouts. Nice recovery, considering how the first inning went.

He got no decision and the Braves came back to win, 6-5.

"I don't know [if past few days affected him]," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I know that he gave us everything he had for five innings and kept us in the ballgame."

Lowe is normally engaging and doesn't shy from questions in postgame interviews. Not Sunday. Three times, when reporters tried to ask him if the first inning might have been in any way attributable to being distracted after his arrest, Lowe cut off the question mid-sentence or dismissed it altogether as "not even a question."

The third time it was asked, he abruptly ended the interview and left.

Before exiting, Lowe had answered questions about the game and the Braves' position in the standings. He was asked if was too soon to worry (before Sunday, the Braves were six games behind East leader Philadelphia, 4-1/2 behind Florida)."