WASHINGTON -- The Atlanta Braves returned to their winning ways beating the Washington Nationals, 3-1, on Wednesday night.
The Braves remain 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place Philadelphia in the NL East race. The Phils, behind Roy Halladay, beat Arizona, 7-1.
Tim Hudson continued his mastery of Washington with 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
Jason Heyward stole home in the game.
Hudson (11-5) allowed seven hits, improving to 10-1 in 16 career starts against the Nationals. The right-hander, who struck out seven and walked one, has won three of four starts.
Heyward's steal of home, the first by a Brave in more than 10 years, provided a 2-0 lead in the first inning following a sacrifice fly by Chipper Jones. When Eric Hinske took a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch with runners at the corners, Brian McCann broke for second. Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez threw to second as McCann stopped between the bases. As shortstop Ian Desmond threw to first to try to catch McCann in a rundown, Heyward dashed home, beating Rodriguez's swipe tag following a throw from first baseman Adam Dunn. McCann was credited with a steal of second as part of the delayed double steal.
It was first steal of home by a Brave since Rafael Furcal scored on the front end of a double steal against San Francisco on April 9, 2000.
In the fifth, the Braves went up 3-0 and chased Nats starter Livan Hernandez (7-7). Martin Prado doubled with one out, Heyward walked and Jones hit an RBI single to left. Hernandez lasted 4 1/3 innings, yielding three runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three. Michael Morse singled home the lone run for the Nationals in the bottom of the fifth.
Box Score
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Source: MLB.com
Jason Heyward and teammates.
- Photo2 by Tim Evearitt