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Dodgers go Lowe to silence Hudson, Braves

May 6, 2007 - 4:22 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Derek Lowe and the Los Angeles Dodgers finally solved Tim Hudson.

Lowe pitched seven strong innings and the Dodgers snapped a 12-inning scoreless streak in a two-run fourth inning as the Dodgers downed the Atlanta Braves, 6-3, on Saturday.

Coming into this contest, the Dodgers have had absolutely no success against Hudson (3-1), losing all seven games in which the Atlanta ace had pitched.

Things did not bode well in this one, as Hudson has been dominant, winning his first three decisions and posting a miniscule 1.40 ERA, second best in the National League.

But the Dodgers got a gem from Lowe (3-3), speedy baserunning from Juan Pierre and timely hitting from Nomar Garciaparra in a two-run fourth to finally beat Hudson, who was facing a non-NL East opponent for the first time this season.

"I've always loved facing teams when the other guy is on a roll," Lowe said. "I think it makes you elevate your game."

The Dodgers gave Lowe all the run support he needed in the fourth. Former Brave Rafael Furcal led off with an infield hit - one of his three hits - and advanced to second on a single by Pierre.

Garciaparra followed with a single, plating Furcal to tie the game. Los Angeles took a 2-1 edge after Pierre advanced to third on a flyout by Jeff Kent and scored on a fielder's choice by Luis Gonzalez.

"Furcal and Pierre can really set the table," Hudson said. "They got me pretty good tonight."

Wilson Betemit, another former Brave who entered the game hitting a paltry .125, extended the edge to 3-1 with a pinch-hit homer off Hudson in the eighth. It was the first homer off the Atlanta righthander in 47 1/3 innings.

"It feels good," said Betemit, who was homerless in his first 56 at-bats this season. "That's what I'm supposed to be doing."

"I left a pitch over the plate for Betemit to hit," Hudson said. "He made me pay for it."

Lowe surrendered one unearned run and three hits with a season-high eight strikeouts and two walks in seven solid innings to improve to 2-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 14 games against Atlanta.

"Lowe was tough," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "When he's got (his sinker) going like it was going tonight, you can't do much. It's just about as good as it gets."

"The guy's been doing that all year," Los Angeles right fielder Andre Ethier said. "He's been getting the job done."

Lowe got stronger as the game went on, throwing 66 of his 105 pitches for strikes and retiring the last nine batters he faced. The only blemish for the 33-year-old righthander was in the third, when the Braves took advantage of a defensive miscue by Kent to take a 1-0 lead.

"Sometimes as a team, facing a guy like Hudson, I think it brings a different intensity to the game," Lowe said. "You know you have to bring your A-game that day. You just try to pitch deeper in the game."

Willie Harris, who was recalled from Class AAA Richmond on April 29, led off the frame with a single, stole second on a pitchout and swiped third base when Kelly Johnson struck out for the second out of the frame. After Edgar Renteria walked, Chipper Jones smashed a grounder that went off the glove of second baseman Kent, allowing Harris to score.

With one out in the eighth, Atlanta threatened against reliever Jonathan Broxton, who walked Johnson and gave up a single to Renteria that extended his hitting streak to 14 games. But Broxton struck out Chipper Jones and retired Andruw Jones on a fielder's choice to end the threat.

Takashi Saito took over for an ineffective Joe Beimel, who loaded the bases and was charged with both ninth-inning runs. After surrendering Johnson's two-run single to narrow the Dodgers' advantage to 6-3, Saito got Renteria to ground weakly to third to notch his ninth save in as many chances.

The six runs were one more than the Dodgers had scored in their last four games combined.

Hudson failed in his bid to win his first four decisions for the first time in his major league career. The two-time All Star allowed three runs and seven hits, struck out three and walked none in eight innings.

"I could have been better tonight," Hudson said. "I wasn't quite as good as I could have been location-wise and stuff-wise. It kind of handcuffed me a little bit."