Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Tim Hudson pitched seven innings and the Atlanta Braves scored all their runs in the seventh frame to deal Stephen Strasburg his second straight loss in a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Strasburg Takes Aim At Heyward-Less Braves
Hudson (8-3) allowed five hits, walked three and fanned six batters to move to 9-1 lifetime against the Nationals franchise. The right-hander bounced back from a loss to the White Sox and moved to 5-1 at home this season.
Strasburg (2-2) was charged with six hits and four runs -- three earned -- over 6 1/3 innings. The powerful rookie right-hander had seven more strikeouts, raising his total to 48 over his first five starts.
Strasburg was on the wrong side of a 1-0 final against Kansas City last Wednesday. The Nationals have scored just one run in his last three starts.
Yunel Escobar, Gregor Blanco and pinch-hitter Omar Infante all singled in runs in the seventh inning. Eric Hinske and Martin Prado added sacrifice flies for the Braves, who have won 17 of their last 19 home games.
Roger Bernadina had a pair of hits for the Nationals, who have lost five in a row and 11 of their last 13 games.
The Braves had a great chance to put a run on the board in the first inning. Melky Cabrera doubled with one out, but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning trying to score on Brian McCann's single to left field. Josh Willingham made a perfect one-hop throw to the plate.
Bernadina struck out swinging to end the top of the fourth, leaving two runners on base.
Atlanta sent 10 men to the plate in the seventh, when Strasburg unraveled. He walked Chipper Jones to start the inning and McCann then singled up the middle. The bases were loaded after shortstop Ian Desmond committed a fielding error on a ball hit by Troy Glaus.
Hinske then lofted a sac fly to center and Escobar followed with a clean RBI single to left. Sean Burnett then entered from the bullpen to replace Strasburg, but Blanco was up next and dragged a bunt toward first base. Burnett slid on his knees in an attempt to get the ball, but couldn't make the play and the infield hit scored Glaus for a 3-0 margin.
Infante then grounded a ball in the hole on the left side. The ball caromed off the glove of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. The infield hit plated Escobar.
Drew Storen then faced Prado, who lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.
Jonny Venters retired the side in order in the eighth, but walked two batters with one out in the ninth. The lefty struck out Desmond and then got pinch- hitter Cristian Guzman to ground out to end the game.
Jones has an 11-game hitting streak...Strasburg came two strikeouts shy of tying the record for most strikeouts in his first five starts to a career. Herb Score had 50 for Cleveland in 1955...The Nationals have dropped 21 of their last 25 contests outside of DC...Braves right fielder Jason Heyward was put on the disabled list with a bone bruise on his left hand. Matt Diaz is expected to be activated from the DL on Tuesday to take Heyward's place.
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