Braves Run Winning Streak To Five Games

Jason Heyward homered and drove in three runs to support Tim Hudson eight dominant innings and the Atlanta Braves do not have to wait until the late innings to put away Pittsburgh, beat Pirates 7-0 Friday to their fourth victory.

The Braves had won three straight matches in the final at-bat, including a 10-9 victory over Cincinnati Tuesday, where they scored seven runs in the ninth inning of the best comebacks in franchise history. They have won nine of 11 overall.

Hudson (5-1) allowed just three singles, two by Bobby Crosby, and won his fourth consecutive decision this month - so no more than a ride on the winds. The right-hander has deserved a run in his last 22 innings in Pittsburgh.

Hudson, trying for his 12th career shutout and his first since May 2, 2008 at Cincinnati, were lifted after throwing 109 seats. Eric O'Flaherty finished the combined four hitter - Atlanta first shutout this season - the Pirates were shut out for the third time in five home games and the sixth time this season.

A Braves team that specializes in winning the late putting this one away early against Ross Ohlendorf (0-2).

Martin Prado doubled and scored on Chipper Jones' single in the first and the way Hudson was pitching, the Braves do not need much more action than that. Heyward gave it to them anyway.

Heyward was the first, then lined a Ohlendorf pitch into the right field seats after Prado's leadoff time to make it 3-0 in the third. Heyward missed a second Homer a few feet, feed a drive high off the right field wall to drive in a run and end a three-run fourth inning that chased Ohlendorf.

Hudson has contributed a run-scoring single by inning, which started with Eric Hinske's double.

Heyward went 3-4 in his Pittsburgh debut with Center Fielder Andrew McCutchen to remove a potential fourth here by making a sliding catch of Heyward's sinking line drive in the sixth.

Brian McCann hit a solo Homer, his fifth, off Pittsburgh Medication Therapy Jeff Karsten.

Ohlendorf held March 2 to 3 innings in his third start after spending a month on disability list with back spasms, giving up six runs and seven hits. He has lasted more than five innings once in four starts.