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Hudson, McCann lift Braves over Nationals

Jun 26, 2007 - 4:22 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Tim Hudson and Brian McCann helped the Atlanta Braves forget about their recent struggles.

Hudson allowed one run in seven solid innings and McCann homered and drove in four runs to power the Braves to a 4-1 victory over the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game series Monday.

After finishing its interleague slate a National League-worst 4-11, Atlanta limped into Monday's contest against Washington with a five-game losing streak.

Playing their worst baseball since 1985, the Braves were blanked in four of the five contests, getting outscored, 27-1, and batting just .150 (23-for-153) over the five games. Atlanta's starting pitchers were not much better, allowing 22 runs and 34 hits in 26 1/3 frames.

Hudson (7-5) ended the futility for the Braves, who improved to 7-1 in games pitched by their righthanded ace following a loss this season.

"It was nice to notch one in the other column for a change," Hudson said. "It's been a while. It's been a lot longer than we like."

The 31-year-old Hudson allowed one run and seven hits with nine strikeouts and no walks to win for the first time since May 30. He threw 63 of 92 pitches for strikes to improve to 4-1 with a 1.29 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals.

"I was able to go out there and make some pitches," Hudson said. "I felt pretty good. I was locating all of my pitches. This is the kind of game that I wish I could bottle up and keep it for further starts."

Rafael Soriano worked around a hit in a scoreless eighth and closer Bob Wickman pitched the ninth to record his 13th save.

McCann provided all the offense for Atlanta.

The 23-year-old McCann, who was one the last time the Braves scored one run over five games, helped the Braves grab their first lead in 49 innings in the fourth.

McCann ended an 0-for-24 slump by Braves' batters with runners in scoring position by smashing a single to left off Nationals starter Jason Bergmann (1-4), plating Edgar Renteria.

Atlanta extended the edge to 4-0 in the sixth.

McCann smashed Washington reliever Billy Traber's 2-1 offering just over the right center field fence for a three-run homer.

"It's been six games (since we had a lead)," McCann said. "We scored more than one. You only need one or two. I am glad we won tonight and got out of that stretch."

After falling behind 3-0, Traber issued an intentional pass to Andruw Jones, who was batting just .198 on the season, which put two runners on base for McCann.

"He had fallen behind 3-0," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "And despite Andruw's struggles, he still had twice as many RBIs as McCann."

"I knew they were going to (walk Jones)," said McCann, who was mired in an 0-for-15 slide coming into this one. "You play the numbers. I'm not playing well against lefties this year."

All four runs came with two outs.

"After we scored the first run, it felt like we had three or four," Hudson said. "When McCann hit the three-run homer, it felt like we had a 10-run lead. It felt like a big load off our shoulders, that's for sure."

Bergmann pitched well in his first start since the righthander was sidelined with right elbow inflammation on May 14. The 25-year-old allowed one run and four hits with four strikeouts in just four innings.

"I felt pretty good," Bergmann said. "It's pretty positive. I threw all my pitches."

Brian Schneider had an RBI single in the seventh for the Nationals, who fell to 2-20 when scoring fewer than three runs this season.