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Hudson strong as Braves split series with Giants

Aug 27, 2012 - 5:50 AM San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Tim Hudson tossed seven solid innings and Brian McCann had three hits with an RBI and run scored as the Atlanta Braves downed the San Francisco Giants, 7-1, in the finale of a four-game set.

Hudson (13-4), who has won his last seven decisions, surrendered a run on five hits and a walk for Atlanta, which salvaged a series split by winning the final two contests. Hudson also had two hits and extended his winning streak against the Giants to six games.

"I was able to throw strikes and make those guys put it in play. It was a day where you definitely needed to pound the strike zone," Hudson said.

Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Juan Francisco each smacked solo homers and Paul Janish added a two-run triple.

Tim Lincecum (7-14) was unable to avoid his second three-start home losing streak of the year. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over five frames for the Giants, who have lost two straight on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

"My rhythm was just off in the first inning. I kind of got it back the next four innings but that was it. I was just getting behind batters 2-0 on pretty much everybody." Lincecum said.

Hunter Pence had three hits and Buster Posey recorded two hits and a run scored.

The Braves plated a pair of runs in the opening frame, another in the fourth and two more in the sixth to jump out to a 5-0 lead.

Martin Prado's RBI groundout and McCann's run-scoring bloop single to center field in the first and Francisco's one-out solo shot to center field in the fourth gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage.

In the sixth, Prado walked and McCann singled to begin the frame before scoring two batters later when Janish ripped an RBI triple into the gap in left-center field, which increased the margin to 5-0.

The Giants, who tallied just three hits off Hudson through the first six frames, finally got to him in the seventh. Posey and Pence hit consecutive singles before Gregor Blanco walked two batters later to load the bases with one out.

But Hudson limited the damage. Brandon Crawford brought home Posey with a sacrifice fly to center field and Brandon Belt grounded out to shortstop, ending the threat.

Heyward and Freeman hit back-to-back homers in the ninth to give the Braves some insurance.

Game Notes

Tim Lincecum has given up 25 first-inning runs, the most in baseball...Heyward hit his third homer in as many games...Atlanta was 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, while San Francisco finished 0-for-6.