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Hudson homers, earns 200th win as Braves rout Nationals

May 1, 2013 - 2:50 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Tim Hudson tossed seven terrific innings and hit his third career home run en route to his 200th career victory as the Atlanta Braves routed the Washington Nationals, 8-1, in the second installment of a four-game set at Turner Field.

"It was just one of those nights," said Hudson. "The stars aligned and I guess it was meant to be. You rarely have the chance to accomplish something like this and hit a home run. Our team is in first place and we're playing some pretty good baseball. Things are good."

Hudson (3-1) allowed just one run and three hits while striking out six in his historic effort. He also doubled and scored twice as Atlanta won its second straight to maintain the best record in the National League.

Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons each went 3-for-5, with Freeman adding three RBI and Simmons smacking his second homer of the season to go with three runs scored.

Gio Gonzalez (2-2) lasted just four innings in the defeat, surrendering five runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out nine.

Atlanta went up early, tacking on two runs in the bottom of the first after Hudson retired the Nationals in order in the top of the frame. Simmons lead off with a homer deep down the left-field line, and Evan Gattis drove in Justin Upton, who had walked, later in the inning with a double. Gattis finished with two hits and two RBI.

The Braves added two more runs in the next inning. Following Hudson's double to deep left field, Chris Johnson ripped a line drive over the third basemen's head for an RBI single. Johnson then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Freeman single.

Gattis provided the Braves with another insurance run in the fourth when he singled to center, plating Simmons.

The Nats finally got on the board in the top of the fifth. Tyler Moore opened with a double to left, breaking up Hudson's no-hitter, and came around to score two batters later when Wilson Ramos grounded out to third.

"He's been doing it a long time and it showed tonight," said Moore on Hudson's performance. "He's just consistent around the plate. He's a good pitcher all- around."

Atlanta broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning, which began with Hudson's two-out home run to right. Bryce Harper made a play on the ball and got his glove on it but failed to make the catch as the ball ricocheted off of his glove and into the right-field bleachers.

Freeman's sharp grounder to first with the bases loaded cost Washington another two runs, as it squirted past Adam LaRoche and into right field.

Game Notes

Upton drew three walks ... Seventeen of Hudson's 21 outs recorded came on strikeouts or groundouts ... Anthony Varvaro pitched two perfect innings of relief for Atlanta ... Hudson earned his 200th win in his 411th career start ... Hudson became the second pitcher to hit a home run in his 200th win.