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Hudson stellar as Braves pound Nationals

Jul 16, 2011 - 5:33 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Tim Hudson's superb all-around effort propelled the Atlanta Braves to a 11-1 victory over the Washington Nationals in opener of a three-game series.

A night after celebrating his 36th birthday, Hudson (9-6) helped the Braves to their 10,000th win in club history, allowing just one run on seven hits over seven frames.

He retired 12 consecutive batters at one point and fanned seven, while going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Hudson also moved to 12-3 lifetime against Washington.

Martin Prado returned from the disabled list to belt a home run and knock in two runs, while Freddie Freeman added three RBI for the Braves, who won for the sixth time in eight games.

Livan Hernandez (5-9) was roughed up for six runs -- three earned -- on eight hits in just four innings.

The Nationals, who have dropped four of five, committed five errors in the contest.

Washington got on the board first, as Roger Bernadina and Danny Espinosa began the game with consecutive singles, before Ryan Zimmerman's grounder to short plated Bernadina.

The lead was fleeting, however, as the Braves pushed four across in the home half, partially due to three Nationals errors. Michael Morse committed two of those gaffes on Jordan Schafer's leadoff grounder. Morse initially misplayed the ball, allowing Schafer to reach safely, then threw it away, as Schafer took second.

Jason Heyward worked a walk after a Prado fly out and Freeman followed with a single to right, scoring Schafer and placing runners on the corners.

Dan Uggla then ripped a double down the left field line to score Heyward, and David Ross followed with a routine grounder to short, which caromed off the heel of Ian Desmond's glove, allowing Freeman to cross the plate.

Nate McLouth's bloop shot to center scored Uggla and put the Braves on top 4-1.

Hudson helped himself in the third with a two-out RBI single, bringing home Ross, who reached earlier on a ground-rule double and advanced to third on McClouth's base hit to right.

Prado began the fourth with a line drive shot to left -- his ninth home run of the season.

"I was glad that I came back to play," said Prado. "I was so sad that I couldn't do anything to help the team win. I worked real hard to get back sooner and faster. Just having a nice first game gives me a lot of confidence to keep doing what I'm doing."

Hudson was not done. After setting down his 11th consecutive batter in the top of the sixth, he led off the bottom half with a double to right, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Prado's single to left.

Heyward then drove in Schafer, who reached earlier on a walk, with a single to right.

Later in the frame, Uggla reached safely and Prado crossed the plate on Ryan Zimmerman's fielding error, as the Braves took a comfortable 9-1 lead.

Freeman plated Schafer and Heyward in the seventh with a two-out double for the final margin.

"I don't think finishing .500 is what we're looking for," said Desmond of the Nationals, who fell to 46-47. "Our offense wasn't really there in the first half and we look forward to getting it going in the second half."

Game Notes

Only the Giants (10,490) and Cubs (10,278) have won more major league games than the Braves...Prado was activated from the 15-day DL prior to the contest...The Nationals trail the wild card-leading Braves by nine games...Uggla has hit safely in seven straight games...Hudson registered his first multi-hit game since July 10, 2010.