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Braves look to remain atop division vs. Pirates

May 11, 2007 - 2:43 PM Atlanta (22-12) at Pittsburgh (15-18) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Finding themselves in a familiar position, the Atlanta Braves look to remain in first place when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Tim Hudson hurled six solid innings and Kelly Johnson drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double in the sixth to power the Braves to a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Atlanta saw its streak of 14 consecutive division titles come to an end with a disappointing 2006 campaign that was marred by inconsistent starting pitching and a porous bullpen that blew a league-leading 29 save opportunities.

But Braves general manager John Schuerholz made pitching a priority this offseason and the club regained its perch atop the NL East - one-half game ahead of the New York Mets (21-12).

Atlanta will look to continue its mound success behind Kyle Davies (0-1, 6.41 ERA), who is looking for his first win of the season. He nearly had it but did not figure in the decision in a 6-4 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday - allowing four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

He will be opposed by the struggling Zach Duke (1-3, 5.50), who has lost three straight decisions. He yielded three runs - one earned - and six hits in five innings in a 6-3 loss at Milwaukee Saturday.

The lefthander is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in two career starts vs. Atlanta.

The Pirates have lost four of their last seven games but secured a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs last Thursday. Paul Maholm pitched seven-plus innings and Jason Bay hit a home run and drove in three runs.