Tim Hudson got the better of Stephen Strasburg as the Atlanta Braves used a five-run seventh inning to take down the Washington Nationals, 5-0, on Monday.
Yunel Escobar had two hits and drove in a run and Brian McCann added a pair of hits for the Braves, who have won three of four.
Hudson (8-3) lasted seven innings, allowing five hits and walking three while striking out six. The veteran right-hander recorded 13 groundouts against two flyouts en route to his eighth win.
Strasburg held serve with Hudson until the seventh, when he walked Chipper Jones to lead off the frame and allowed a single to McCann. An error by shortstop Ian Desmond on a possible double-play ball loaded the bases before Hinske broke the scoreless draw with a sacrifice fly to center.
Escobar followed with an RBI single before Sean Burnett relieved Strasburg. The Nationals’ young ace was charged with a career-high four runs - three earned - and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out seven. Strasburg had trouble with his breaking ball throughout and got hit hard in the first inning before settling into a groove until the seventh.
Strasburg (2-2), who set a major-league record with 41 strikeouts through his first four outings, has lost his last two starts.
Washington | Atlanta | |
Stephen Strasburg | Player | Tim Hudson |
Loss | W/L | Win |
6.1 | IP | 7.0 |
7 | Strikeouts | 6 |
6 | Hits | 5 |
4.26 | ERA | 0.00 |
Washington | Atlanta | |
Roger Bernadina | Player | Yunel Escobar |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 2 |
.667 | Avg | .667 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Washington | 5 | 0 | 6 | .172 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Atlanta | 8 | 0 | 9 | .286 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |