The Atlanta Braves got another solid pitching performance from Tim Hudson as they opened their three-game set with the Houston Astros with a 4-1 win at Turner Field. Hudson picked up his 11th win of the season by allowing no earned runs in 7 1/3 innings of work. Hudson allowed four hits while striking out three and walking two.
The Braves struck first in the third inning when Chipper Jones doubled home Martin Prado and Jason Heyward to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead against Houston starter Armando Galarraga. The Braves scored another run later in the inning when Dan Uggla reached on a play where Astros shortstop Marwin Gonzalez lost the ball in the nighttime sky. The play was ruled a double for Uggla and the Braves led 3-0. Martin Prado drove home the final run with a double of his own in the fourth inning.
Houston scored its lone run in the sixth inning when Ben Francisco scored on a groundout by J.D. Martinez. Francisco had previously reached base on an error by second baseman Dan Uggla.
Eric O'Flaherty and Craig Kimbrel retired the final five outs of the game with Kimbrel striking out the side in the ninth. With the win Atlanta cuts the Washington National's lead in the N.L. East down to just two games.
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