GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (56-52) at ATLANTA (57-53)

NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 7 1
ATLANTA 1 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 x 6 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: COL - UBALDO JIMENEZ, RAMON RAMIREZ (5TH), TAYLOR BUCHHOLZ (6TH),
MATT HERGES (8TH) AND YORVIT TORREALBA

ATL - TIM HUDSON, OCTAVIO DOTEL (8TH), RAFAEL SORIANO
(8TH), BOB WICKMAN (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN

HOME RUNS: COL - GARRETT ATKINS (17) OFF OCTAVIO DOTEL IN THE 8TH, 3 ON

ATL - MATT DIAZ (7) OFF UBALDO JIMENEZ IN THE 2ND, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
COLORADO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 7 1
ATLANTA 1 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 x 6 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: COL - UBALDO JIMENEZ, RAMON RAMIREZ (5TH), TAYLOR BUCHHOLZ (6TH),
MATT HERGES (8TH) AND YORVIT TORREALBA

ATL - TIM HUDSON, OCTAVIO DOTEL (8TH), RAFAEL SORIANO
(8TH), BOB WICKMAN (9TH) AND BRIAN MCCANN


WP - TIM HUDSON (12-5)
LP - UBALDO JIMENEZ (1-1)
SAVE - BOB WICKMAN (18)

HOME RUNS: COL - GARRETT ATKINS (17) OFF OCTAVIO DOTEL IN THE 8TH, 3 ON

ATL - MATT DIAZ (7) OFF UBALDO JIMENEZ IN THE 2ND, 0 ON


TIME: 3:02 ATT: 50,647

PROBABLES: COL - AARON COOK (8-6, 4.13)
ATL - CHUCK JAMES (9-8, 3.70)</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">COLORADO (4) VS ATLANTA (6) - FINAL

COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Sullivan cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .318
K Matsui 2b 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 .290
G Atkins 3b 4 1 1 4 0 0 2 .270
T Helton 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .293
R Spilborghs lf 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .315
B Hawpe rf 3 0 1 0 1 2 0 .288
T Tulowitzki ss 3 0 1 0 0 1 4 .275
Y Torrealba c 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .277
U Jimenez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
R Ramirez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Baker ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .212
T Buchholz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158
b-C Iannetta ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .182
M Herges p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-W Taveras ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .316

Totals 32 4 7 4 3 10 13

a-struck out looking for R Ramirez in the 6th; b-struck out swinging for T
Buchholz in the 8th; c-grounded to pitcher for M Herges in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - B Hawpe (22, T Hudson); Y Torrealba (13, O Dotel). HR - G Atkins
(17, 8th inning off O Dotel 3 on, 1 Out). RBI - G Atkins 4 (74). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - W Taveras 1, T Tulowitzki 1. GIDP - G Atkins, T
Helton, T Tulowitzki. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - Y Torrealba (4, throw).


ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Harris cf 5 1 2 2 0 0 0 .326
A Jones cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
K Johnson 2b 3 0 2 1 2 1 2 .302
C Jones 3b 5 0 0 0 0 3 5 .329
M Teixeira 1b 4 0 0 0 1 1 2 .263
B McCann c 4 1 2 0 0 1 3 .268
J Francoeur rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .301
M Diaz lf 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 .345
Y Escobar ss 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .327
T Hudson p 3 0 1 2 0 1 1 .204
a-S Thorman ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218
O Dotel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Soriano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Wickman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 6 9 6 5 10 15

a-struck out swinging for T Hudson in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - K Johnson (19, M Herges). 3B - W Harris (5, U Jimenez). HR - M
Diaz (7, 2nd inning off U Jimenez 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - K Johnson (57), M Diaz
(30), W Harris 2 (23), T Hudson 2 (5). 2-out RBI - T Hudson 2, W Harris.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Johnson 2, C Jones 2, M Teixeira 1,
B McCann 2. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - K Johnson 2 (9, 2nd base off U Jimenez/Y Torrealba 2).

FIELDING: E - Y Escobar (7, throw). DP: 3 (Y Escobar-K Johnson-M Teixeira, C
Jones-K Johnson-M Teixeira, K Johnson-Y Escobar-M Teixeira).


----------------------------------------------------
COLORADO - 000 000 040 -- 4
ATLANTA - 110 130 00x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
U Jimenez (L, 1-1) 4 2/3 6 6 6 5 7 1 5.16
R Ramirez 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 8.82
T Buchholz 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.80
M Herges 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.50

ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era
T Hudson (W, 12-5) 7 5 0 0 2 7 0 2.95
O Dotel 1/3 2 4 3 1 1 1 11.57
R Soriano (H, 17) 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.88
B Wickman (S, 18) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.99

WP - R Ramirez. HBP - M Diaz 2 (by U Jimenez 2); T Tulowitzki (by B Wickman).
Pitches-strikes: U Jimenez 110-66; R Ramirez 6-4; T Buchholz 28-17; M Herges
14-10; T Hudson 100-64; O Dotel 24-17; R Soriano 12-8; B Wickman 17-10. Ground
balls-fly balls: U Jimenez 5-2; R Ramirez 0-0; T Buchholz 1-3; M Herges 2-1; T
Hudson 9-5; O Dotel 0-0; R Soriano 1-1; B Wickman 1-0. Batters faced: U Jimenez
27; R Ramirez 2; T Buchholz 7; M Herges 4; T Hudson 25; O Dotel 5; R Soriano 2;
B Wickman 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Phil Cuzzi.

T--3:02. Att--50,647.
Weather: 91 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, right
to left.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
COLORADO 4
ATLANTA 6 FINAL</div>

 

Hudson propels Braves past Rockies

<h3>ATLANTA 6, COLORADO 4</h3>ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Once again, the Atlanta Braves turned toTim Hudson to stop a losing streak.


Hudson continued his dominant second half, hurling seven shutoutframes and driving in two runs and Willie Harris drove in tworuns as well to lead the Braves to a 6-4 win over the ColoradoRockies on Saturday.


After winning four straight, the Braves had struggled, droppingtheir next two contests entering Saturday's game. Once again,the Braves sent their 31-year old ace Hudson (12-5) to the hillin the hopes of stopping the slide.


Hudson, who is 9-2 in games following a loss coming into thisone, delivered. The righthander scattered five hits, walked twoand struck out seven in seven shutout frames to win his sixthconsecutive decision.


It was the second consecutive impressive start for Hudson, whoalso tossed seven shutout frames in his last outing against theArizona Diamondbacks. He has not allowed a run in 14 frames.

Hudson, who is 4-0 with a microscopic 0.91 ERA in five startssince the All-Star break, hurled 64 of 100 pitches for strikesen route to improving to an astronomical 92-1 when he is stakedto a three-run lead.


The Alabama-native even helped out with the bat in the fifth,smashing a bases-loaded two out, two run single to center fieldto give Atlanta a 5-0 advantage.


The Rockies' best chance against Hudson came in the seventh.Hudson issued a one out walk to Todd Helton and loaded the baseson free passes to Ryan Spilborghs and Brad Hawpe. But thecrafty Hudson induced rookie Troy Tulowitzki to ground into adouble play to end the frame.


Playing in front of thousands of alumni on Kennesaw StateUniversity Night at Turner Field, former KSU standout Harris,who was given a rare start in center field when Andruw Jonescould not play after receiving a cortisone shot in histroublesome left elbow, led off the first with a triple. He wasplated one batter later on a single by Kelly Johnson.

Matt Diaz extended the lead with his seventh homer of the seasonoff Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1) in the second andpadded the advantage to 3-0 when he scored on Harris' groundoutone frame later. Harris singled to give Atlanta a 6-0 lead inthe fifth.


With Hudson out of the game, hot hitting Garrett Atkins smasheda grand slam off reliever Octavio Dotel in the sixth. It wasthe second grand slam of the season and fourth of the career ofAtkins, who has driven in 17 runs in his last 11 games.

Rafael Soriano recorded the last two outs in the eighth andcloser Bob Wickman closed the door in the ninth to collect his18th save in 23 opportunities.


Jimenez allowed six runs and six hits, struck out seven andwalked five in 4 2/3 innings for the Rockies, who lost for justthe second time in seven games.

 

NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COLORADO (4) AT ATLANTA (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ATLANTA 1ST: W Harris tripled to deep left. K Johnson singled to center,
W Harris scored. C Jones flied out to left. M Teixeira struck out looking,
K Johnson stole second. B McCann struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 1.

ATLANTA 2ND: J Francoeur grounded out to third. M Diaz homered to right.
Y Escobar struck out swinging. T Hudson struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 2.

ATLANTA 4TH: J Francoeur walked. M Diaz hit by pitch, J Francoeur to
second. Y Escobar singled to left, J Francoeur to third, M Diaz to second.
T Hudson grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Francoeur out at home,
M Diaz to third, Y Escobar to second. W Harris grounded out to first, M Diaz
scored, Y Escobar to third, T Hudson to second. K Johnson walked. C Jones
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 3.

ATLANTA 5TH: M Teixeira grounded out to pitcher. B McCann singled to
right. J Francoeur struck out swinging. M Diaz hit by pitch, B McCann to
second. Y Escobar walked, B McCann to third, M Diaz to second. T Hudson
singled to center, B McCann and M Diaz scored, Y Escobar to third. R Ramirez
relieved U Jimenez. W Harris singled to center, Y Escobar scored, T Hudson to
second. T Hudson to third, W Harris to second on wild pitch by R Ramirez.
K Johnson struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 6.

COLORADO 8TH: O Dotel relieved T Hudson. Y Torrealba doubled to deep left.
C Iannetta hit for T Buchholz. C Iannetta struck out swinging. C Sullivan safe
at first on throwing error by shortstop Y Escobar. K Matsui walked,
Y Torrealba to third, C Sullivan to second. G Atkins homered to left,
Y Torrealba, C Sullivan and K Matsui scored. R Soriano relieved O Dotel.
T Helton fouled out to catcher. R Spilborghs grounded out to third. (4 Runs,
2 Hits, 1 Error) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 6.</div>

 

NL: COLORADO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COLORADO (4) AT ATLANTA (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colorado Starting Lineups -- C Sullivan CF, K Matsui 2B, G Atkins 3B, T Helton
1B, R Spilborghs LF, B Hawpe RF, T Tulowitzki SS, Y Torrealba C, U Jimenez RHP.

Atlanta Starting Lineups -- W Harris CF, K Johnson 2B, C Jones 3B, M Teixeira 1B,
B McCann C, J Francoeur RF, M Diaz LF, Y Escobar SS, T Hudson RHP.

Umpires -- Tom Hallion (HP), Paul Nauert (1B), James Hoye (2B), Phil Cuzzi (3B).

Gametime Weather: 91 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 4 mph.


COLORADO 1ST: C Sullivan singled to left. K Matsui flied out to left.
G Atkins grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, C Sullivan out
at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 0.

ATLANTA 1ST: W Harris tripled to deep left. K Johnson singled to center,
W Harris scored. C Jones flied out to left. M Teixeira struck out looking,
K Johnson stole second. B McCann struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 1.

COLORADO 2ND: T Helton popped out to shortstop. R Spilborghs struck out
looking. B Hawpe doubled to deep left. T Tulowitzki struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 1.

ATLANTA 2ND: J Francoeur grounded out to third. M Diaz homered to right.
Y Escobar struck out swinging. T Hudson struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 2.

COLORADO 3RD: Y Torrealba grounded out to shortstop. U Jimenez struck out
swinging. C Sullivan struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0,
ATLANTA 2.

ATLANTA 3RD: W Harris flied out to center. K Johnson walked. C Jones
struck out swinging, K Johnson stole second, K Johnson to third on throwing
error by catcher Y Torrealba. M Teixeira walked. B McCann grounded out to
first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 2.

COLORADO 4TH: K Matsui reached on infield single to shortstop. G Atkins
flied out to left. T Helton grounded into double play, third to second to
first, K Matsui out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 2.

ATLANTA 4TH: J Francoeur walked. M Diaz hit by pitch, J Francoeur to
second. Y Escobar singled to left, J Francoeur to third, M Diaz to second.
T Hudson grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Francoeur out at home,
M Diaz to third, Y Escobar to second. W Harris grounded out to first, M Diaz
scored, Y Escobar to third, T Hudson to second. K Johnson walked. C Jones
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 3.

COLORADO 5TH: R Spilborghs grounded out to third. B Hawpe struck out
swinging. T Tulowitzki singled to right. Y Torrealba struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 3.

ATLANTA 5TH: M Teixeira grounded out to pitcher. B McCann singled to
right. J Francoeur struck out swinging. M Diaz hit by pitch, B McCann to
second. Y Escobar walked, B McCann to third, M Diaz to second. T Hudson
singled to center, B McCann and M Diaz scored, Y Escobar to third. R Ramirez
relieved U Jimenez. W Harris singled to center, Y Escobar scored, T Hudson to
second. T Hudson to third, W Harris to second on wild pitch by R Ramirez.
K Johnson struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 6.

COLORADO 6TH: J Baker hit for R Ramirez. J Baker struck out looking.
C Sullivan flied out to center. K Matsui flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 6.

ATLANTA 6TH: T Buchholz relieved R Ramirez. C Jones struck out swinging.
M Teixeira flied out to right. B McCann singled to center. J Francoeur fouled
out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 6.

COLORADO 7TH: G Atkins grounded out to third. T Helton singled to center.
R Spilborghs walked, T Helton to second. B Hawpe walked, T Helton to third,
R Spilborghs to second. T Tulowitzki grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, B Hawpe out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0,
ATLANTA 6.

ATLANTA 7TH: M Diaz flied out to center. Y Escobar grounded out to
shortstop. S Thorman hit for T Hudson. S Thorman struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, ATLANTA 6.

COLORADO 8TH: O Dotel relieved T Hudson. Y Torrealba doubled to deep left.
C Iannetta hit for T Buchholz. C Iannetta struck out swinging. C Sullivan safe
at first on throwing error by shortstop Y Escobar. K Matsui walked,
Y Torrealba to third, C Sullivan to second. G Atkins homered to left,
Y Torrealba, C Sullivan and K Matsui scored. R Soriano relieved O Dotel.
T Helton fouled out to catcher. R Spilborghs grounded out to third. (4 Runs,
2 Hits, 1 Error) COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 6.

ATLANTA 8TH: M Herges relieved T Buchholz. W Harris lined out to shortstop.
K Johnson doubled to deep right. C Jones grounded out to second, K Johnson to
third. M Teixeira grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4,
ATLANTA 6.

COLORADO 9TH: B Wickman relieved R Soriano. A Jones in center field.
B Hawpe struck out swinging. T Tulowitzki hit by pitch. Y Torrealba struck out
looking. W Taveras hit for M Herges. T Tulowitzki to second on fielder's
indifference. W Taveras grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
COLORADO 4, ATLANTA 6.</div>

 

Hudson propels Braves past Rockies

<h3>ATLANTA 6, COLORADO 4</h3>ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Once again, the Atlanta Braves turned toTim Hudson to stop a losing streak.


Hudson continued his dominant second half, hurling seven shutoutframes and driving in two runs and Willie Harris drove in tworuns as well to lead the Braves to a 6-4 win over the ColoradoRockies on Saturday.


After winning four straight, the Braves had struggled, droppingtheir next two contests entering Saturday's game. Once again,the Braves sent their 31-year old ace Hudson (12-5) to the hillin the hopes of stopping the slide.


Hudson, who is 9-2 in games following a loss coming into thisone, delivered. The righthander scattered five hits, walked twoand struck out seven in seven shutout frames to win his sixthconsecutive decision.


"It's nice to go out there and win a ballgame, especially whenthere team is coming off a loss," Hudson said. "I take everystart the same. My approach is the same. I try to go out thereand win. But, it's always important to put and end to a losingstreak, obviously."


It was the second consecutive impressive start for Hudson, whoalso tossed seven shutout frames in his last outing against theArizona Diamondbacks. He has not allowed a run in 14 frames.

"Hudson was brilliant tonight," Braves manager Bobby Cox said."Almost all season, (he has been) to be honest with you. Hestarted in spring training, throwing down in the zone, strikeafter strike, it's paid off."


"We ran into a blade with (Hudson) on the mound," Rockiesmanager Clint Hurdle said. "Ask the rest of the guys who facedhim the last 10 games."


Hudson, who is 4-0 with a microscopic 0.91 ERA in five startssince the All-Star break, hurled 64 of 100 pitches for strikesen route to improving to an astronomical 92-1 when he is stakedto a three-run lead.


"If you can get a lot of runs early, it takes some pressureoff," Hudson said.


The Alabama-native even helped out with the bat in the fifth,smashing a bases-loaded two out, two run single to center fieldto give Atlanta a 5-0 advantage.


"One-for-two and I got two RBIs," joked Hudson, who was passedover as a pinch hitter in Thursday's whacky 12-11, 14-inningloss to the Astros in favor of fellow starter Chuck James. "I'ma professional hitter. ... I'm trying to make an impression (onCox). I don't know if he thinks I am too old (to pinch hit)."

The Rockies' best chance against Hudson came in the seventh.Hudson issued a one out walk to Todd Helton and loaded the baseson free passes to Ryan Spilborghs and Brad Hawpe. But thecrafty Hudson induced rookie Troy Tulowitzki to ground into adouble play to end the frame.


"We had a lot of double plays and great defense all night,"Hudson said. "This game's never easy, but I have a lot ofconfidence in all my teammates."


Playing in front of thousands of alumni on Kennesaw StateUniversity Night at Turner Field, former KSU standout Harris,who was given a rare start in center field when Andruw Jonescould not play after receiving a cortisone shot in histroublesome left elbow, led off the first with a triple. He wasplated one batter later on a single by Kelly Johnson.

"I heard they were here tonight," Harris said of the large KSUcontingent. "I'm just glad to go out and have a good game. Ijust try to go out there and put out a good performance."

Matt Diaz extended the lead with his seventh homer of the seasonoff Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1) in the second andpadded the advantage to 3-0 when he scored on Harris' groundoutone frame later. Harris singled to give Atlanta a 6-0 lead inthe fifth.


With Hudson out of the game, hot hitting Garrett Atkins smasheda grand slam off reliever Octavio Dotel in the sixth. It wasthe second grand slam of the season and fourth of the career ofAtkins, who has driven in 17 runs in his last 11 games.

"I was just trying to hit it in the air and at least get a runin," Atkins said. "He kind of left it in the middle of theplate."


Rafael Soriano recorded the last two outs in the eighth andcloser Bob Wickman closed the door in the ninth to collect his18th save in 23 opportunities.


Jimenez allowed six runs and six hits, struck out seven andwalked five in 4 2/3 innings for the Rockies, who lost for justthe second time in seven games.

 

Hudson propels Braves past Rockies

<h3>ATLANTA 6, COLORADO 4</h3>ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Once again, the Atlanta Braves turned toTim Hudson to stop a losing streak.


Hudson continued his dominant second half, hurling seven shutoutframes and driving in two runs and Willie Harris drove in tworuns as well to lead the Braves to a 6-4 win over the ColoradoRockies on Saturday.


After winning four straight, the Braves had struggled, droppingtheir next two contests entering Saturday's game. Once again,the Braves sent their 31-year old ace Hudson (12-5) to the hillin the hopes of stopping the slide.


Hudson, who is 9-2 in games following a loss coming into thisone, delivered. The righthander scattered five hits, walked twoand struck out seven in seven shutout frames to win his sixthconsecutive decision.


"It's nice to go out there and win a ballgame, especially whenthere team is coming off a loss," Hudson said. "I take everystart the same. My approach is the same. I try to go out thereand win. But, it's always important to put and end to a losingstreak, obviously."


It was the second consecutive impressive start for Hudson, whoalso tossed seven shutout frames in his last outing against theArizona Diamondbacks. He has not allowed a run in 14 frames.

"Hudson was brilliant tonight," Braves manager Bobby Cox said."Almost all season, (he has been) to be honest with you. Hestarted in spring training, throwing down in the zone, strikeafter strike, it's paid off."


"We ran into a blade with (Hudson) on the mound," Rockiesmanager Clint Hurdle said. "Ask the rest of the guys who facedhim the last 10 games."


Hudson, who is 4-0 with a microscopic 0.91 ERA in five startssince the All-Star break, hurled 64 of 100 pitches for strikesen route to improving to an astronomical 92-1 when he is stakedto a three-run lead.


"If you can get a lot of runs early, it takes some pressureoff," Hudson said.


The Alabama-native even helped out with the bat in the fifth,smashing a bases-loaded two out, two run single to center fieldto give Atlanta a 5-0 advantage.


"One-for-two and I got two RBIs," joked Hudson, who was passedover as a pinch hitter in Thursday's whacky 12-11, 14-inningloss to the Astros in favor of fellow starter Chuck James. "I'ma professional hitter. ... I'm trying to make an impression (onCox). I don't know if he thinks I am too old (to pinch hit)."

The Rockies' best chance against Hudson came in the seventh.Hudson issued a one out walk to Todd Helton and loaded the baseson free passes to Ryan Spilborghs and Brad Hawpe. But thecrafty Hudson induced rookie Troy Tulowitzki to ground into adouble play to end the frame.


"We had a lot of double plays and great defense all night,"Hudson said. "This game's never easy, but I have a lot ofconfidence in all my teammates."


Playing in front of thousands of alumni on Kennesaw StateUniversity Night at Turner Field, former KSU standout Harris,who was given a rare start in center field when Andruw Jonescould not play after receiving a cortisone shot in histroublesome left elbow, led off the first with a triple. He wasplated one batter later on a single by Kelly Johnson.

"I heard they were here tonight," Harris said of the large KSUcontingent. "I'm just glad to go out and have a good game. Ijust try to go out there and put out a good performance."

Matt Diaz extended the lead with his seventh homer of the seasonoff Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1) in the second andpadded the advantage to 3-0 when he scored on Harris' groundoutone frame later. Harris singled to give Atlanta a 6-0 lead inthe fifth.


With Hudson out of the game, hot hitting Garrett Atkins smasheda grand slam off reliever Octavio Dotel in the eighth. It wasthe second grand slam of the season and fourth of the career ofAtkins, who has driven in 18 runs in his last 11 games.

"I was just trying to hit it in the air and at least get a runin," Atkins said. "He kind of left it in the middle of theplate."


Rafael Soriano recorded the last two outs in the eighth andcloser Bob Wickman closed the door in the ninth to collect his18th save in 23 opportunities.


Jimenez allowed six runs and six hits, struck out seven andwalked five in 4 2/3 innings for the Rockies, who lost for justthe second time in seven games.