WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – Tim Hudson had a dominating pitching performance in the Atlanta Braves’ 11-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

And he was more pleased with his baserunning yesterdayon Sunday.

Hudson pitched seven solid innings and Brian McCann had four RBIs to help Atlanta take two of three in the season-opening series. For Hudson, however, the best part of the game came in the top of the fifth, when he scored by sliding headfirst into home while wearing a warmup jacket.

“It gave me some padding for landing,” said Hudson, who came out of the slide with a minor abrasion on his knee. “This is the first time I’ve had a strawberry in a long time. A little battle wound.”

The right-hander got it done on the mound, too. He allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked one while improving to 11-2 with a 1.88 ERA against the Nationals’ franchise.

Just about everyone in the Braves’ lineup had a big day. Martin Prado had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI after opening the season 0 for 9.

“(Saturday) he went 0 for 5 with five bullets, and today probably the softest ball he hit went for a base hit,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Prado. “That’s how this game makes you want to jump off a cliff sometimes.”

Atlanta put the game away with six runs in the eighth inning. The first run came home when Brian Broderick, making his major league debut, balked with the bases loaded. Five players drove in runs, including Jason Heyward, who had two singles in the inning.

Hudson didn’t allow a baserunner after Danny Espinosa singled to lead off the second. The next batter, Ivan Rodriguez, grounded into a double play, and Hudson also retired the next 16 batters.

“He was awesome today. His sinker was darting,” McCann said. “Right when he got the double play with Pudge, that pitch really locked him in for the rest of the game.”

Jordan Zimmermann (0-1) pitched six innings for Washington and was charged with three runs, two earned, and four hits.

Atlanta pushed across two runs in the fifth – helped by Hudson’s baserunning – to go in front for good.

“It had the feel of a five- or six-run deficit instead of a two-run deficit because we weren’t playing good baseball,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said.

Alex Gonzalez led off with a triple after his fly ball to right-center fell between outfielders Rick Ankiel and Jayson Werth, and he scored on a groundout by Freddie Freeman.

Hudson, who walked, went to third on Prado’s double and scored on the play when Espinosa dropped the relay throw for an error. Hudson briefly stopped after rounding third, then dashed home and finished with the headfirst slide.

“Play of the year,” McCann said. “If there’s a play that tops that – I don’t know if there will be all season long for us. That was awesome. He’s been wanting to do that for 10 years now.”

Atlanta was helped by couple of Washington miscues to score its first run. The Nationals barely missed one double play when Nate McLouth beat a throw to first, and second baseman Espinosa bobbled another possible double-play ball hit by Chipper Jones, only getting Jones out at first. The Braves took advantage of the reprieve as McCann singled home McLouth.

Washington tied it in the bottom of the first on Adam LaRoche’s single to right. Werth got tangled up with Jones in the basepath before being thrown out at the plate, but the run was awarded due to Jones’ obstruction.

“It was just a flukey thing,” Jones said. “It’s never happened to me before.”

Atlanta added two in the seventh on McCann’s bases-loaded single.

NOTES: Atlanta put RHP Jair Jurrjens on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, retroactive to March 25. The Braves recalled LHP Mike Minor from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he is expected to start Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee. … Matt Young made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Jones in the eighth and remained in the game as the left fielder. … Nationals leadoff hitter Ian Desmond is 0 for 13 to start the season. Braves 2B Dan Uggla robbed him of a hit with an over-the-shoulder diving catch in the sixth inning.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Tim Hudson had a dominating pitching performance in the Atlanta Braves’ 11-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

And he was more pleased with his baserunning on Sunday.

Hudson pitched seven solid innings and Brian McCann had four RBIs to help Atlanta take two of three in the season-opening series. For Hudson, however, the best part of the game came in the top of the fifth, when he scored by sliding headfirst into home while wearing a warmup jacket.

“It gave me some padding for landing,” said Hudson, who came out of the slide with a minor abrasion on his knee. “This is the first time I’ve had a strawberry in a long time. A little battle wound.”

The right-hander got it done on the mound, too. He allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked one while improving to 11-2 with a 1.88 ERA against the Nationals’ franchise.

Just about everyone in the Braves’ lineup had a big day. Martin Prado had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI after opening the season 0 for 9.

“(Saturday) he went 0 for 5 with five bullets, and today probably the softest ball he hit went for a base hit,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Prado. “That’s how this game makes you want to jump off a cliff sometimes.”

Atlanta put the game away with six runs in the eighth inning. The first run came home when Brian Broderick, making his major league debut, balked with the bases loaded. Five players drove in runs, including Jason Heyward, who had two singles in the inning.

Hudson didn’t allow a baserunner after Danny Espinosa singled to lead off the second. The next batter, Ivan Rodriguez, grounded into a double play, and Hudson also retired the next 16 batters.

“He was awesome today. His sinker was darting,” McCann said. “Right when he got the double play with Pudge, that pitch really locked him in for the rest of the game.”

Jordan Zimmermann (0-1) pitched six innings for Washington and was charged with three runs, two earned, and four hits.

Atlanta pushed across two runs in the fifth — helped by Hudson’s baserunning — to go in front for good.

“It had the feel of a five- or six-run deficit instead of a two-run deficit because we weren’t playing good baseball,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said.

Alex Gonzalez led off with a triple after his fly ball to right-center fell between outfielders Rick Ankiel and Jayson Werth, and he scored on a groundout by Freddie Freeman.

Hudson, who walked, went to third on Prado’s double and scored on the play when Espinosa dropped the relay throw for an error. Hudson briefly stopped after rounding third, then dashed home and finished with the headfirst slide.

“Play of the year,” McCann said. “If there’s a play that tops that — I don’t know if there will be all season long for us. That was awesome. He’s been wanting to do that for 10 years now.”

Atlanta was helped by couple of Washington miscues to score its first run. The Nationals barely missed one double play when Nate McLouth beat a throw to first, and second baseman Espinosa bobbled another possible double-play ball hit by Chipper Jones, only getting Jones out at first. The Braves took advantage of the reprieve as McCann singled home McLouth.

Washington tied it in the bottom of the first on Adam LaRoche’s single to right. Werth got tangled up with Jones in the basepath before being thrown out at the plate, but the run was awarded due to Jones’ obstruction.

“It was just a flukey thing,” Jones said. “It’s never happened to me before.”

Atlanta added two in the seventh on McCann’s bases-loaded single.

NOTES: Atlanta put RHP Jair Jurrjens on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, retroactive to March 25. The Braves recalled LHP Mike Minor from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he is expected to start Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee. … Matt Young made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Jones in the eighth and remained in the game as the left fielder. … Nationals leadoff hitter Ian Desmond is 0 for 13 to start the season. Braves 2B Dan Uggla robbed him of a hit with an over-the-shoulder diving catch in the sixth inning.

by The Associated Press
The Marietta Daily Journal

WASHINGTON – Tim Hudson had a dominating pitching performance in the Atlanta Braves’ 11-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

And he was more pleased with his baserunning on Sunday.

Hudson pitched seven solid innings and Brian McCann had four RBIs to help Atlanta take two of three in the season-opening series. For Hudson, however, the best part of the game came in the top of the fifth, when he scored by sliding headfirst into home while wearing a warmup jacket.

“It gave me some padding for landing,” said Hudson, who came out of the slide with a minor abrasion on his knee. “This is the first time I’ve had a strawberry in a long time. A little battle wound.”

The right-hander got it done on the mound, too. He allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked one while improving to 11-2 with a 1.88 ERA against the Nationals’ franchise.

Just about everyone in the Braves’ lineup had a big day. Martin Prado had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI after opening the season 0-for-9.

“(Saturday) he went 0-for-5 with five bullets, and today probably the softest ball he hit went for a base hit,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Prado. “That’s how this game makes you want to jump off a cliff sometimes.”

Atlanta put the game away with six runs in the eighth inning. The first run came home when Brian Broderick, making his major league debut, balked with the bases loaded. Five players drove in runs, including Jason Heyward, who had two singles in the inning.

Hudson didn’t allow a baserunner after Danny Espinosa singled to lead off the second. The next batter, Ivan Rodriguez, grounded into a double play, and Hudson also retired the next 16 batters.

“He was awesome today. His sinker was darting,” McCann said. “Right when he got the double play with Pudge, that pitch really locked him in for the rest of the game.”

Jordan Zimmermann (0-1) pitched six innings for Washington and was charged with three runs, two earned, and four hits.

Atlanta pushed across two runs in the fifth – helped by Hudson’s baserunning – to go in front for good.

“It had the feel of a five- or six-run deficit instead of a two-run deficit because we weren’t playing good baseball,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said.

Alex Gonzalez led off with a triple after his fly ball to right-center fell between outfielders Rick Ankiel and Jayson Werth, and he scored on a groundout by Freddie Freeman.

Hudson, who walked, went to third on Prado’s double and scored on the play when Espinosa dropped the relay throw for an error. Hudson briefly stopped after rounding third, then dashed home and finished with the headfirst slide.

“Play of the year,” McCann said. “If there’s a play that tops that – I don’t know if there will be all season long for us. That was awesome. He’s been wanting to do that for 10 years now.”

Atlanta was helped by couple of Washington miscues to score its first run. The Nationals barely missed one double play when Nate McLouth beat a throw to first, and second baseman Espinosa bobbled another possible double-play ball hit by Chipper Jones, only getting Jones out at first. The Braves took advantage of the reprieve as McCann singled home McLouth.

Washington tied it in the bottom of the first on Adam LaRoche’s single to right. Werth got tangled up with Jones in the basepath before being thrown out at the plate, but the run was awarded due to Jones’ obstruction.

“It was just a flukey thing,” Jones said. “It’s never happened to me before.”

Atlanta added two in the seventh on McCann’s bases-loaded single.

NOTES: Atlanta put RHP Jair Jurrjens on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, retroactive to March 25. The Braves recalled LHP Mike Minor from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he is expected to start Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee. … Matt Young made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Jones in the eighth and remained in the game as the left fielder. … Nationals leadoff hitter Ian Desmond is 0-for-13 to start the season. Braves 2B Dan Uggla robbed him of a hit with an over-the-shoulder diving catch in the sixth inning.

April 4, 2011

12:04 a.m.

WASHINGTON — Tim Hudson had a dominating pitching performance in the Atlanta Braves’ 11-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

And he was more pleased with his baserunning on Sunday.

Hudson pitched seven solid innings and Brian McCann had four RBIs to help Atlanta take two of three in the season-opening series. For Hudson, however, the best part of the game came in the top of the fifth, when he scored by sliding headfirst into home while wearing a warmup jacket.

“It gave me some padding for landing,” said Hudson, who came out of the slide with a minor abrasion on his knee. “This is the first time I’ve had a strawberry in a long time. A little battle wound.”

The right-hander got it done on the mound, too. He allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked one while improving to 11-2 with a 1.88 ERA against the Nationals’ franchise.

Just about everyone in the Braves’ lineup had a big day. Martin Prado had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI after opening the season 0 for 9.

“(Saturday) he went 0 for 5 with five bullets, and today probably the softest ball he hit went for a base hit,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Prado. “That’s how this game makes you want to jump off a cliff sometimes.”

Atlanta put the game away with six runs in the eighth inning. The first run came home when Brian Broderick, making his major league debut, balked with the bases loaded. Five players drove in runs, including Jason Heyward, who had two singles in the inning.

Hudson didn’t allow a baserunner after Danny Espinosa singled to lead off the second. The next batter, Ivan Rodriguez, grounded into a double play, and Hudson also retired the next 16 batters.

“He was awesome today. His sinker was darting,” McCann said. “Right when he got the double play with Pudge, that pitch really locked him in for the rest of the game.”

Jordan Zimmermann (0-1) pitched six innings for Washington and was charged with three runs, two earned, and four hits.

Atlanta pushed across two runs in the fifth — helped by Hudson’s baserunning — to go in front for good.

“It had the feel of a five- or six-run deficit instead of a two-run deficit because we weren’t playing good baseball,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said.

Alex Gonzalez led off with a triple after his fly ball to right-center fell between outfielders Rick Ankiel and Jayson Werth, and he scored on a groundout by Freddie Freeman.

Hudson, who walked, went to third on Prado’s double and scored on the play when Espinosa dropped the relay throw for an error. Hudson briefly stopped after rounding third, then dashed home and finished with the headfirst slide.

“Play of the year,” McCann said. “If there’s a play that tops that — I don’t know if there will be all season long for us. That was awesome. He’s been wanting to do that for 10 years now.”

Atlanta was helped by couple of Washington miscues to score its first run. The Nationals barely missed one double play when Nate McLouth beat a throw to first, and second baseman Espinosa bobbled another possible double-play ball hit by Chipper Jones, only getting Jones out at first. The Braves took advantage of the reprieve as McCann singled home McLouth.

Washington tied it in the bottom of the first on Adam LaRoche’s single to right. Werth got tangled up with Jones in the basepath before being thrown out at the plate, but the run was awarded due to Jones’ obstruction.

“It was just a flukey thing,” Jones said. “It’s never happened to me before.”

Atlanta added two in the seventh on McCann’s bases-loaded single.

NOTES: Atlanta put RHP Jair Jurrjens on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, retroactive to March 25. The Braves recalled LHP Mike Minor from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he is expected to start Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee. … Matt Young made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Jones in the eighth and remained in the game as the left fielder. … Nationals leadoff hitter Ian Desmond is 0 for 13 to start the season. Braves 2B Dan Uggla robbed him of a hit with an over-the-shoulder diving catch in the sixth inning.

WASHINGTON – Tim Hudson had a dominating pitching performance in the Atlanta Braves’ 11-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

And he was more pleased with his baserunning on Sunday.

Hudson pitched seven solid innings and Brian McCann had four RBIs to help Atlanta take two of three in the season-opening series. For Hudson, however, the best part of the game came in the top of the fifth, when he scored by sliding headfirst into home while wearing a warmup jacket.

“It gave me some padding for landing,” said Hudson, who came out of the slide with a minor abrasion on his knee. “This is the first time I’ve had a strawberry in a long time. A little battle wound.”

The right-hander got it done on the mound, too. He allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked one while improving to 11-2 with a 1.88 ERA against the Nationals’ franchise.

Just about everyone in the Braves’ lineup had a big day. Martin Prado had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI after opening the season 0 for 9.

“(Saturday) he went 0 for 5 with five bullets, and today probably the softest ball he hit went for a base hit,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said of Prado. “That’s how this game makes you want to jump off a cliff sometimes.”

Atlanta put the game away with six runs in the eighth inning. The first run came home when Brian Broderick, making his major league debut, balked with the bases loaded. Five players drove in runs, including Jason Heyward, who had two singles in the inning.

Hudson didn’t allow a baserunner after Danny Espinosa singled to lead off the second. The next batter, Ivan Rodriguez, grounded into a double play, and Hudson also retired the next 16 batters.

“He was awesome today. His sinker was darting,” McCann said. “Right when he got the double play with Pudge, that pitch really locked him in for the rest of the game.”

Jordan Zimmermann (0-1) pitched six innings for Washington and was charged with three runs, two earned, and four hits.

Atlanta pushed across two runs in the fifth — helped by Hudson’s baserunning — to go in front for good.

“It had the feel of a five- or six-run deficit instead of a two-run deficit because we weren’t playing good baseball,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said.

Alex Gonzalez led off with a triple after his fly ball to right-center fell between outfielders Rick Ankiel and Jayson Werth, and he scored on a groundout by Freddie Freeman.

Hudson, who walked, went to third on Prado’s double and scored on the play when Espinosa dropped the relay throw for an error. Hudson briefly stopped after rounding third, then dashed home and finished with the headfirst slide.

“Play of the year,” McCann said. “If there’s a play that tops that — I don’t know if there will be all season long for us. That was awesome. He’s been wanting to do that for 10 years now.”

Atlanta was helped by couple of Washington miscues to score its first run. The Nationals barely missed one double play when Nate McLouth beat a throw to first, and second baseman Espinosa bobbled another possible double-play ball hit by Chipper Jones, only getting Jones out at first. The Braves took advantage of the reprieve as McCann singled home McLouth.

Washington tied it in the bottom of the first on Adam LaRoche’s single to right. Werth got tangled up with Jones in the basepath before being thrown out at the plate, but the run was awarded due to Jones’ obstruction.

“It was just a flukey thing,” Jones said. “It’s never happened to me before.”

Atlanta added two in the seventh on McCann’s bases-loaded single.

NOTES: Atlanta put RHP Jair Jurrjens on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, retroactive to March 25. The Braves recalled LHP Mike Minor from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he is expected to start Wednesday’s game at Milwaukee. … Matt Young made his major league debut as a pinch runner for Jones in the eighth and remained in the game as the left fielder. … Nationals leadoff hitter Ian Desmond is 0 for 13 to start the season. Braves 2B Dan Uggla robbed him of a hit with an over-the-shoulder diving catch in the sixth inning.

Published: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:36 PM     Updated: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:40 PM

 

KISSIMMEE, Florida — Tim Hudson is ready for opening day — at the plate as well as on the mound. Hudson allowed a run and four hits in six innings and went 2 for 2 to raise his spring batting average to .333 as the Atlanta Braves played to a 4-4 tie with the Florida Marlins in a game stopped after 11 innings on Wednesday.

“Maybe we’ll hit him seventh or eighth,” Braves manager Freddie Gonzalez said jokingly.

Hudson, who was named National League comeback player of the year last season following reconstructive elbow surgery, singled and scored in the third inning and singled again in fifth, both off Florida starter Rickey Nolasco.

“I’ll be honest with you, running the bases isn’t easy for a starting pitcher,” the 35-year-old Hudson said, breaking into a grin.

Hudson, who will make his final spring appearance in a minor league game, had four strikeouts and walked two in his longest outing of the spring.

“All in all, I’m happy,” Hudson said of his preparation for the season.

Dewayne Wise led off the game with a double and came around to score after a wild pitch. Hudson was in charge after that, and the Braves took the lead with three runs off Nolasco in the third inning.

Rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman hit his second homer of the spring and Hudson followed with his first hit. After a single by Nate McLouth, Chipper Jones delivered a two-run double with two outs.

Jones, who had knee surgery in August, played nine innings at third base for the first time this spring and is hitting .407 with 13 RBIs.

“Some said I was a question mark, so it’s good to have some stats behind me,” Jones said. “The one thing you want to come out of spring training with is confidence and I’ve got it.”

Florida took the lead in the seventh on a two-run double by Wise off reliever George Sherrill. The veteran left-hander gave up four hits, walked one and hit a batter in the three-run inning.

Atlanta’s Brandon Hicks homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. It was the Braves’ fourth tie of the spring.

Nolasco worked five innings, allowing seven hits and the three runs in the third inning. He struck out three and walked none.

“I felt like I finally found some rhythm,” said Nolasco, who was roughed up for seven runs in his previous start and lasted just 2 1-3 innings. “I made some good pitches. In the third inning, I just couldn’t get that last out or make that one last quality pitch. But those are things that will come and I was glad I was able to get out of the inning.”

Nate McLouth, who struggled all last season, had a double as well as his single. He has reclaimed his starting job in center field with the Braves and is batting .304.

Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel, who will share closing duties for the Braves, each pitched a perfect inning. Venters struck out two in the eighth inning and Kimbrel fanned one in the ninth.

HANSON’S BACK: Tommy Hanson, who missed his scheduled start Monday against the Mets because of stiff back, allowed two homers and five runs while pitching 5.1 innings in a minor league camp game Wednesday. The right-hander gave up eight hits, struck out six and walked none while throwing 96 pitches.

“His back was fine,” Gonzalez said.

Hanson is scheduled to start the second game of the season at Washington on April 2.