The Reigning NL Pitcher of the Month Tim Hudson took the loss to the Mets on Thursday Night. Photo Courtesy of Tim Evearitt

The Braves were defeated Thursday night by the New York Mets 4-2 and watched their lead in the NL East slip to just 2 games thanks to a wild comeback win by the Phillies over the Rockies.

Pitching:

Tim Hudson got the start and took the loss allowing 4 runs (3 earned) over seven innings pitched. Hudson’s record now falls to 15-6. The Mets got to Hudson early scoring twice in the first inning. Carlos Beltran tripled with two outs and scored on an Omar Infante throwing error. Joaquin Arias followed up two more Mets’ singles and a walk with an infield single of his own to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

Johan Santana pitched five innings allowing three hits and one run courtesy of Brian McCann’s 20th home run of the season. Santana left the game after the fifth with a strained pectoral muscle and is listed as day to day.

Offense:

Brian McCann banged out three hits including his before mentioned twentieth homer of the season. The three hits raise McCann’s batting average to .285 and the RBI gives him 71 for the season. Since the all star break McCann is hitting .305 with 9 homers and 33 RBI’s. Martin Prado added a hit and an RBI for the Braves. Melky Cabrera went 2 for 3 on the night and Omar Infante had a hit as well. Infante’s average is currently at .345 which would be tops in the National League if Infante had enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title.

Notes:

Tim Hudson was named NL pitcher of the Month for August after compiling a 4-1 record with a 1.71 ERA. The Braves also activated first baseman Troy Glaus from the disabled list.

Next Game:

Kenshin Kawakami will get his first shot at starting for the Atlanta Braves in Derek Lowe’s spot in the rotation on Friday night in Florida against the Marlins. Lowe will miss the game with a sore elbow.

Top Prospect Freddie Freeman made his long awaited debut for the Braves in last night's game. Photo Courtesy of Tim Evearitt.

September 2, 2010 – 7:10 PM Peachtree TV
New York Mets (65-68) Vs. Atlanta Braves (78-55)

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What to Watch For: The Braves come into tonight seeking their sixth straight win and a series sweep of the New York Mets. It is no secret that Tim Hudson has been the teams best pitcher this season and will be going for his 16th win of the season. A case could be made that Hudson is the Braves team MVP this season as no one really expected this kind of season coming off of Tommy John surgery. Jason Heyward has been red hot hitting .520 over the last seven days and has raised his season average up to .284. Matt Diaz carries a lifetime .533 batting average into tonight’s game against Mets starter Johan Santana.

Tim Hudson

Vs.

Johan Santana

The Mets against Tim Hudson

The Braves against Johan Santana

Tim Hudson struck out a career high 13 Marlins while capturing his 15th win of the season. Photo courtesy of Tim Evearitt.

If anyone ever needed a game like this it was the Atlanta Braves. The bats woke up early pounding out six runs in the second inning against Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco. Those runs were plenty enough for Tim Hudson on this night. Hudson continued his magnificent season by pitching seven innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out a career high thirteen batters. Hudson runs his record to 15-5 on the season and his performance helped the Braves snap a four game losing streak.

Martin Prado had a homer and 5 RBI's for the Braves on Saturday. Photo Courtesy of Tim Evearitt

Offensively the theme of the night was to do the little things. Braves television broadcaster Joe Simpson touched on it early in the game that the Braves for the last couple of weeks had been struggling moving runners over and thus had been struggling scoring runs. In the Braves six run second inning, Tim Hudson got down a key sacrifice bunt. That combined with a big three run Brian McCann double sent the Braves on their way.

Offensively five different Braves had at least two hits. In all they banged out fourteen total hits including three homers and three doubles. Martin Prado hit his 15th home run and drove in five runs. Eric Hinske subbed in for an injured Derrek Lee and responded with two hits including his tenth home run of the season.

Lee’s side injury is the only bad news on an otherwise close to perfect night. The win moves the Braves back to two games in front of the Phillies. The Braves and Marlins wrap up their series with the rubber match on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1:35. Derek Lowe will be on the hill for the Braves and will be opposed by Marlins ace Josh Johnson.