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Hudson goes for Braves at Chavez Ravine

Apr 18, 2011 - 2:27 PM (Sports Network) - Atlanta starter Tim Hudson seeks a bounce-back effort tonight when the Braves begin a 10-game swing out west with the first of four straight versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The right-handed Hudson had won his first two starts of the season, giving up three earned runs over 14 2/3 innings before running into the Marlins on Wednesday. Hudson yielded five runs on seven hits over six innings of a 5-1 loss, though he finished strong by retiring 14 of the final 16 batters he faced.

What changed for the 35-year-old?

"To be honest with you, I just started pitching not like a sissy later in the game," Hudson told his team's website. "I just started throwing and being more aggressive with my fastball. Early on, I think I was trying backdoor breaking balls and sinkers off the plate and not challenging anybody with fastballs. As a result, there were some comfortable at-bats for them."

Hudson is 6-2 with a 3.49 earned run average in 12 career starts versus the Dodgers.

The Braves will visit the Dodgers, Giants and Padres on this swing having split their last six games. Atlanta won its first two versus the New York Mets over the weekend, but dropped Sunday's finale, 3-2.

Jason Heyward had a solo homer and Freddie Freeman added a run-scoring single to account for the offense. Tommy Hanson threw five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts to take the loss.

"Just took a little bit to get going there," said Hanson after giving up a pair of first-inning runs. "A couple pitches I made that (first) inning didn't help. I felt really good today."

The Dodgers take aim at a second straight victory after snapping a five-game slide with last night's 2-1 victory, getting a walk-off two-run homer by Matt Kemp.

"I'm glad we got a win. We've been struggling the last five games," said Kemp, who went 3-for-4.

LA starter Chad Billingsley tossed eight scoreless frames, giving up just two hits with 11 strikeouts. Jonathan Broxton got the win despite giving up a run in the top of the ninth.

Dodgers hurler Ted Lilly takes his fourth crack at a first win this season as he is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA through his initial three starts. The southpaw took the loss on Wednesday at San Francisco, getting charged with four runs on seven hits over six innings, though he did not walk a batter.

"I'm not making nearly enough quality pitches to give us a good shot at winning," Lilly said.

Lilly, 35, is 4-2 with a 4.41 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves.

The Braves won five of eight from the Dodgers last year, splitting four games in Los Angeles.