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Braves' Maholm hopes to solve Padres

Aug 15, 2012 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - Surging lefty Paul Maholm aims to keep the momentum going against a team he's never beaten tonight, when the Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres in game three of a four-game series at Turner Field.

The 30-year-old Mississippi native, who came to the Braves in a four-player deal on July 30, is 0-4 in five career starts against the Padres while posting a 4.86 earned run average with 24 strikeouts and 11 walks in 33 1/3 innings.

He was 9-6 in 21 appearances with the Cubs before the deal and has split two outings with Atlanta, picking up his 10th win of the season with a complete- game gem against the New York Mets in his most recent start on Aug. 10.

In that game, at New York's Citi Field, Maholm allowed three hits and struck out five in a 4-0 triumph.

He was 4-6 on the year after a 10-5 loss at Arizona on June 23, but has since won six of seven decisions across nine outings while lowering his ERA from 5.38 to 3.50.

In Tuesday's second game, Tim Hudson tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings and the Braves blanked the Padres, 6-0.

Hudson (12-4) allowed just two hits and a walk with four strikeouts to win his sixth straight decision. Jonny Venters, Luis Avilan and Craig Kimbrel shut down the Padres the rest of the way.

Martin Prado clubbed a three-run home run and Dan Uggla launched a solo shot. Chipper Jones and Freddie Freeman knocked in a run for the Braves, who avoided losing three straight games for the first time since July 21-23.

"It was one of his best performances," Uggla said. "They really didn't have a chance all night. He went out there and battled, and just kept getting me and Freddie ground balls. That's what we like to see from him."

Clayton Richard (9-12) was saddled with the loss after yielding five runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 frames. His three-start unbeaten streak was broken. He's 0-5 lifetime against the Braves.

Yonder Alonso registered two hits for the Padres, who had won seven of their previous eight.

San Diego sends Dominican righty Edinson Volquez to the mound seeking his first win of the month.

The 29-year-old, acquired in the offseason from Cincinnati, improved to 7-7 on the year with an 11-5 defeat of the Reds on July 30, but has picked up a no- decision and a loss since while pitching just five innings across two games.

He gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Aug. 10 - a game won by the Padres, 9-8 - and took a 6-2 loss to the Mets after surrendering four runs in 1 2/3 innings.

He's 1-2 in four career starts against the Braves.

This is the first series between the teams in 2012. San Diego won five of nine games against Atlanta in 2011, while the Braves were 4-2 series winners in 2010.