ATLANTA (AP) — Tim Hudson pitched eight scoreless innings and hit his second career home run in the Atlanta Braves' 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.
Hudson (6-6) allowed two hits, one walk and struck out a season-high eight, including the 1,600th of his career. He took Ricky Romero (6-7) deep to make it 2-0 with two outs in the sixth.
Toronto has lost two straight and five of seven.
Hudson retired 20 straight batters before Mike McCoy walked to lead off the ninth and advanced to second on Yunel Escobar's infield single.
Closer Craig Kimbrel struck out Corey Patterson, Jose Bautista and Adam Lind to earn his 20th save in 25 chances.
Bautista, who began the game leading the major leagues with a .483 on-base percentage, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to snap a streak of reaching base in 24 straight games.
Toronto hadn't been shut out since losing 9-0 at home to Detroit on May 7. But the Blue Jays were nearly punchless against Hudson, who had gone 1-4 with a 5.80 ERA in his previous seven starts — a streak that began with a one-hit home shutout of Milwaukee on May 4.
Romero escaped trouble with runners in scoring position during the first, second, fourth and sixth innings but he made a mistake with a fastball to Hudson, whose homer landed in the seats in left field.
Hudson became the first pitcher to homer against Toronto since Felipe Lira hit one out against David Wells on July 8, 2000, at Montreal.
Romero, who allowed six hits, two runs, two walks and struck out four in seven innings, has lost three of four starts despite a 3.23 ERA.
The Braves paused the game for a few seconds to acknowledge Hudson's 1,600th career strikeout when J.P. Arencibia whiffed in the fifth. He got his first career curtain call in the seventh.
Hudson, who hit his first career homer on Sept. 12, 2009, at St. Louis, bailed out his team after David Ross was thrown out at home on Diory Hernandez's fielder's choice grounder.
When manager Fredi Gonzalez came to get him in the ninth, Hudson tipped his cap to a standing ovation.
Hudson, who improved to 3-3 with a 2.60 ERA, made 89 pitches through his first eight innings.
Notes: Braves LF Martin Prado is still recovering from surgeries to treat a staph infection and doesn't know when he can resume baseball activities. ... Gonzalez said RHP Brandon Beachy, on the 15-day DL since May 15 with a left oblique strain, will start Wednesday. ... Braves SS Alex Gonzalez doubled in the sixth to snap an 0-for-19 streak.
