The Atlanta Braves continued their winning ways as veteran right-hander Tim Hudson outdueled rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg.
The Braves threatened in the first two innings but were unable to score against Strasburg. Melky Cabrera was thrown out trying to score in the first, and Blanco grounded into an inning-ending double play in the second with two men on.
The two hurlers matched zeros for six innings before the Braves broke through courtesy of an Ian Desmond error in the bottom of the seventh. The gaffe prevented a likely double play.
Hudson pitched around trouble in the top half of the frame to escape unscathed.
Strasburg came out after the seventh inning stretch and walked Chipper Jones on four pitches and gave up a single to Brian McCann.
Desmond then bobbled a grounder from Troy Glaus to load the bases with no outs. That’s when it all came crashing down for the Nats.
Jones scored from third on an Eric Hinske sacrifice fly. Yunel Escobar ended Strasburg’s night by driving in McCann with a single to left to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.
Gregor Blanco greeted Sean Burnett with an RBI bunt single, and Escobar scored on an infield single by Omar Infante to extend the lead to 4-0.
Martin Prado capped off the five-run seventh inning with a fly ball to right that scored Blanco.
Strasburg pitched 6.1 innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits; he struck out seven and walked two.
Hudson pitched seven scoreless innings and gave up just five hits; striking out six and walking three. Jonny Venters pitched two clean innings in relief for the Braves to secure the 5-0 victory.
With the loss, Strasburg is now 2-2 with a 2.27 ERA despite his fourth quality start in five career outings. Hudson improves to 8-3 with a 2.37 ERA through 16 starts. He is now 5-1 at home this season.
The Braves are 45-32 with a 1.5-game lead over the Mets in the NL East. The Nationals are now 33-44 and have lost five straight games.
Chipper Jones extended his hot hitting and has now hit safely in 11 straight games.
Derek Lowe (9-4, 4.42) will take the mound for Atlanta against Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.34) of the Nationals on Tuesday at Turner Field.
First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET.
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