Hudson makes his pitch for Braves

ATLANTA -- Tim Hudson had just about everybody in the Atlanta clubhouse relieved. Maybe the Braves’ starting rotation hasn’t quite reached a crisis point yet.

Hudson pitched his 11th career shutout and Brian McCann hit a two-run homer, helping the Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-0, Friday night.

“The last two starts haven’t exactly been textbook for me,” Hudson said,” so it’s nice to come out here and give us a chance to win.”

Hudson (4-2) gave up three hits, and at one point retired 11 consecutive batters before Edwin Encarnacion singled leading off the eighth. Encarnacion went to second on Yunel Escobar’s throwing error, the first Cincinnati batter to get past first, but was stranded at third on pinch-hitter Joey Votto’s groundout.

Hudson didn’t have a strikeout after the sixth, but finished with a season-high 10. He retired Corey Patterson, Jeff Keppinger and Ken Griffey Jr. on fly balls in the ninth.

“He was dealing tonight,” Reds Manager Dusty Baker said. “His ball was dipping and diving. I’d like to think it was him and not us.”