• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hudson dazzles again as Braves defeat Nationals

May 16, 2007 - 5:10 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Tim Hudson continues to be one of the best pitchers in the major leagues.

Hudson pitched no-hit ball through 5 2/3 innings and Edgar Renteria belted two homers as the Atlanta Braves cruised by the Washington Nationals, 6-2.

Hudson (5-1) yielded a run, three hits and a walk for Atlanta, which snapped a two-game skid while ending Washington's four-game winning streak.

"I had a really good sinker in the 'pen (warming up), so I went with it," Hudson said. "I changed speeds and had good command."

The righthander, who hasn't given up more than three runs in any of his eight starts, went at least seven innings for the seventh time in 2007. He lowered his ERA to 1.77.

"Going deep in the game is what I'm looking for," Hudson said.

With the Braves leading, 5-0, Hudson had not allowed a baserunner before walking Brian Schneider with two outs in the sixth. After Robert Fick singled to right field to put runners on first and third, Ryan Langerhans lined a single to left to plate Schneider. It was Langerhans' first RBI as a member of the Nationals.

It was the only damage allowed by Hudson, who improved to 3-1 in six career starts vs. Washington.

"I would never want to face him," Braves catcher Brian McCann said. "He has everything working for him right now. He's been awesome."

The Braves struck early with one out in the top of the first. After an infield single by Willie Harris, Renteria connected on a 1-2 pitch off Jerome Williams over the left field wall to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.

"It's nice to get runs early," Hudson said. "It was a great game for us."

In the third, after consecutive singles by Kelly Johnson, Harris and Renteria loaded the bases, Andruw Jones hit an RBI base hit to right field for a 3-0 lead.

The single by Jones was the last batter Williams faced due to an injured neck and shoulder. Later in the frame, a sacrifice fly by Brian McCann and an RBI single by Scott Thorman off reliever Micah Bowie put the Braves ahead, 5-0.

Williams (0-5), who threw just 48 pitches, was examined by the Nationals' medical staff and it was determined that the 25-year-old suffered a right shoulder/rotator cuff strain.

"I'm disappointed in my performance," Williams said. "I hope the shoulder is nothing serious and I can get back out there soon."

The righthander, who is listed as day-to-day, allowed five runs, seven hits and a walk to remain winless. He had just been activated from the disabled list to start against the Braves. He has sprained his left ankle in his last start vs. the New York Mets on April 28.

"It's frustrating to see our starting pitchers get hurt, Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "We need a break from the injuries."

Renteria hit a solo homer with one out in the seventh, increasing Atlanta's lead to 6-0. It was Renteria's sixth homer this season and sixth multi-homer game of his career.

"I had good swings on both of them," Renteria said. "It was my first two home runs here. I feel real good."

Pinch hitter Nook Logan led off the eighth with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Tony Batista for the Nationals, who also lost for the first time in five games at home.