Braves Hammer Marlins 12-3, Hudson K’s Career High 13

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.

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.