Braves Top Reds

The Atlanta Braves won the first game of a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night 6-5, but they lost a player who has just started to heat up.
The Braves had eleven hits in the victory. They had taken a 6-3 lead early but the Reds slowly chipped their way back into the game before the Braves finished it out. Freddie Freeman, who had just learned he won the NL Final Player vote for the upcoming All-Star game, celebrated in a big way by having three hits and driving in four runs. Justin Upton also added three hits and drove in a run and scored two more. Andrelton Simmons added two hits and scored two runs, while Reed Johnson had a hit and an RBI and Chris Johnson added a hit. Jason Heyward also had a hit in the game but he left with a leg injury later, it looks like he will be out until after the All-Star break.
Tim Hudson started the game and earned his second victory in a row now bringing his record up to 6-7 on the year. He pitched seven innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on eight hits and struck out five. Jordan Walden came in to pitch the eighth and he gave up an unearned run on a hit while striking out two batters. Craig Kimbrel also struck out two batters in the ninth inning to earn his 25th save of the season.
The Braves are now 53-39 on the year and they will continue their four-game series with the Reds tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. Kris Medlen (6-8) will get the ball for Atlanta against Bronson Arroyo (5-6) of the Reds.

Freddie Freeman, who was just named to the NL All-Star team earlier in the day, had four RBI's in the Braves' 6-5 victory over the Reds on Thursday night.
Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press