Tim Hudson got a pleasant surprise warming up in the bullpen for his fourth attempt at his 100th career victory. After a three-year absence, his split-finger fastball was back.
"I've been afraid to use it, but all of a sudden, there it was," Hudson said Saturday after holding the Cardinals to one run in seven innings in the Atlanta Braves' 8-1 win in St. Louis. "I haven't had a good one in three years, but it was there today."
Braves manager Bobby Cox was as surprised as Hudson (8-6).
"We haven't seen it in a game, and there it was today," Cox said of the right-hander the Braves acquired in an offseason trade with Oakland.
And it arrived in time for the win that made him 100-45 in his career. Hudson struck out four, walked one and allowed six hits to earn his first victory since July 16. He was 0-1 in three starts in that span.
He got all the support he needed from Andruw Jones, who homered twice, including a grand slam, to increase his major league leading total to 35.
Jones' grand slam in the sixth inning was the fourth of his career and came in his fourth multihomer game of the season and 26th of his career.
METS 2, CUBS 0: At New York, Jae Seo, recalled from the minor leagues to make the start, outpitched Greg Maddux and New York sent Chicago to its fourth straight loss and fifth in the last six games. Seo (3-1) allowed just four hits in 7 1-3 innings. He struck out four and walked one. Roberto Hernandez ended his string of poor outings by striking out Derrek Lee with two men on to end the eighth, and Braden Looper finished for his 23rd save in 27 chances.
GIANTS 5, ASTROS 2: At San Francisco, Noah Lowry allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings to help San Francisco win a home series for the first time since May. Edgardo Alfonzo added a pair of RBI singles and Mike Matheny hit a solo homer for the Giants, who have won three straight games for the first time since a four-game winning streak June 28-July 1.
PIRATES 9, DODGERS 4: At Pittsburgh, Zach Duke became only the second rookie in Pirates history to win his first five decisions as a starter, giving up more than one run for only the second time in his short career in pitching Pittsburgh past Los Angeles. Duke (5-0) gave up four runs and 10 hits in 7 1-3 innings.
REDS 4, MARLINS 3: At Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. doubled to start a two-run sixth inning and Cincinnati rallied past Florida. Adam Dunn followed Griffey's double to right off Brian Moehler (6-9) with a walk, and Sean Casey singled to load the bases. Guillermo Mota relieved Moehler and Austin Kearns' slow groundout to third allowed Griffey to score the tying run.
PADRES 3, NATIONALS 2: At Washington, the Nationals held a closed-door clubhouse meeting for more than 1 1/2 hours, then went out and lost another one-run decision on Joe Randa's RBI double in the seventh inning. The NL West-leading Padres raised their record back to .500 (55-55), while the Nationals fell to 6-16 since the All-Star break.
PHILLIES 8, BREWERS 2: At Philadelphia, Jon Lieber pitched seven strong innings for his 10th win and Jimmy Rollins homered among his three hits and scored three runs as Philadelphia beat Milwaukee. Chase Utley drove in three runs for the Phillies, who have won three of four.