The Braves needed to get back on track following a tough loss on Wednesday night, and they did just that behind a stellar pitching performance from Tim Hudson. Despite recording just three hits all afternoon, Atlanta scored a run in the second, third and fourth innings on their way to a 3-2 victory.
Hudson worked 7.1 innings of two-run ball, surrendering eight hits and two walks. He struck out three batters. Madison Bumgarner started for San Francisco and went seven frames, allowing three runs (two earned) to score on three hits and no walks.
The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on an Emmanuel Burriss single through the right side. Freddie Freeman promptly responded with a solo homer on the first pitch of the bottom of the second, tying the game at 1-1.
Michael Bourn tripled home Paul Janish in the third to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Janish had previously reached on a fielding error from Pablo Sandoval. David Ross hit a deep home run to center field in the fourth to make it 3-1.
Melky Cabrera tripled to lead off the eighth inning and was driven home on a deep sacrifice fly from Buster Posey. Hudson then exited the game in favor of Eric O'Flaherty, who worked around a one-out double to preserve the 3-2 lead.
Craig Kimbrel entered for the ninth and worked a perfect frame to seal the victory.
Assuming the Mets hold onto their seven-run lead in Washington, the Braves will be 3.5 games back of the Nationals on Friday. They'll begin a four-game series (Saturday doubleheader) with Tommy Hanson and Stephen Strasburg on the mound.