Tim Hudson pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Evan Gattis homered, and the Atlanta Braves beat Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals 3-1 Saturday for their eighth straight victory.
Hudson (2-0) allowed one run, walked none and struck out three in improving his lifetime record against Washington (7-4) to 15-5. Not only did the right-hander outpitch Strasburg, but he also got two singles off Washington's hard-throwing ace.
Strasburg (1-2) gave up two unearned runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out seven, walked one and hit a batter.
Atlanta (10-1) took the lead for good in the third inning, when Gattis homered after a two-out throwing error by Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. It was the fourth homer in eight games for Gattis, who made his major league debut on April 3.
Washington scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the 5th on a solo shot by Danny Espinosa. But that turned out to be the Nationals' last gasp as Hudson, Eric O'Flaherty, and Craig Kimbrel combined to retire the home side's final 13 batters.
Atlanta added their final run in the ninth inning, as Ryan Mattheus allowed three of the first four Atlanta batters he faced to reach on singles before Chris Johnson scored on Jason Heyward's fielder's choice groundout.
The Nationals, who had won their first six games at Nationals Park before this series, will try to avoid the sweep Sunday beginning at 1:35 p.m., when Gio Gonzalez will take the mound against Paul Maholm.
