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May 6, 2010 - 4:24 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Atlanta (11-15) at Washington (14-12), 7:05 p.m. EDT

With Jason Heyward ailing, the Atlanta Braves may have a tough time continuing their success at the plate after snapping a long road skid. Tim Hudson, though, may not need all that much support.

The Braves, who may be without the rookie slugger, hope Hudson can come through with yet another outstanding performance against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.

Atlanta (12-15) snapped an eight-game road losing streak Wednesday night, getting a tiebreaking single from Matt Diaz in the 10th inning to win the middle game of this three-game set 7-6.

"It's no secret we were struggling a little on the road," Diaz said. "That's an understatement."

Still, the Braves scored at least seven runs for the third time in four games, even with Heyward leaving in the second inning due to a sore right groin. Heyward, who is day to day, was replaced in right field by Melky Cabrera.

"I don't know what I did. I couldn't tell you, to be honest," Heyward said. "When I got back to my position, it felt sore."

The 20-year-old Heyward is batting .286 and has a team-high eight homers and 24 RBIs. He was the NL rookie of the month for April after hitting six home runs and driving in 19.

Atlanta had 10 hits, five for extra bases, without Heyward. Hudson (2-1, 2.87 ERA) has gotten by at times with much less run support than that when facing the Washington (14-13).

The veteran right-hander is 8-1 with a 1.55 ERA in 13 starts versus the Nationals. In four outings at Washington, he's 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA.

Nationals No. 3 hitter Ryan Zimmerman is 3 for 23 (.130) against him.

Hudson earned a win in his last outing, giving up a season-low one run in 6 2-3 innings of a 10-1 victory over Houston on Saturday.

Washington will counter with Scott Olsen (2-1, 4.35), who has struggled against the Braves, going 3-5 with a 6.25 ERA in 12 starts.

Olsen, though, has not allowed a run over his last two starts, winning both. The left-hander had an 11.74 ERA through his previous two outings.

Olsen gave up five hits and struck out four in six innings of a 7-1 win over Florida on Friday night.

Washington is in desperate need of a strong pitching performance, having posted a 6.17 ERA in losing three of four games this month. The Nationals, though, have remained productive at the plate, scoring six runs in each of their last two contests.

Shortstop Ian Desmond has homered in two straight games for Washington. He has four homers and seven RBIs in five career games against the Braves, and is batting .310 with six RBIs over his last seven contests overall.

Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan is 11 for 22 in his last five games against Atlanta. He tied a season high with three hits Wednesday.