Pirates 5, Braves 0
James McDonald pitched seven scoreless innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates got to Tim Hudson in the seventh inning en route to a 5-0 victory over the stumbling Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at PNC Park.
McDonald yielded five hits and three walks - two intentional - and struck out two Braves, who lost the opener of the series 3-1 on Monday and have lost five of six overall. The loss dropped Atlanta one-half game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the National League East.
McDonald (3-3) cruised until Atlanta loaded the bases in the sixth with one out, but Derrek Lee bounced into a double play. He worked a perfect seventh before departing after 109 pitches.
Hudson (15-7) retired the first 12 batters before Garrett Jones led off the fifth with a sharp single to right field.
Pittsburgh finally cracked through against the Cy Young candidate in the seventh. Jones and Pedro Alvarez smacked back-to-back doubles and after Ryan Doumit was intentionally walked, Ronny Cedeno followed with a two-run triple to right-center to provide a 3-0 lead and end the night for Hudson.
Pinch hitter Delwyn Young then greeted reliever Eric O'Flaherty with a two-run homer - his seventh of the season - that snapped an 0-for-28 skid for Pirates pinch hitters.
Hudson was charged with four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The game was delayed 43 minutes by rain after the eighth inning.