Article:The Tomahawk Times - Hudson hurt, Reds sweep Braves with 6-2 win

CINCINNATI -- The Atlanta Braves closed out another dismal roadtrip with a 6-2 loss and a three-game sweep at the hands of hot hitting Jay Bruce and the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday at Great American Ballpark.

Bruce banged out two more hits in three trips to the plate, including his second homer in as many days. The 21-year old his hitting .591 over his first six games in the Majors.

Cincinnati took the lead early, when Adam Dunn launched his 15th homer of the season in the first. The Bruce homer and a Brandon Phillips double in the second had the Reds leading 3-0 after two.

Tim Hudson (7-4) was charged with four runs in six innings of work, but was forced to leave the game in the seventh with a strained left hamstring. The injury is believed to be slight and Hudson does not expect to miss his next start.

Hudson was not the only Braves hurler to go down in that seventh. Blaine Boyer was forced out of the game after injuring his right knee while delivering a pitch to Phillips. The extent of the injury is not known, as Boyer will travel back to Atlanta with the club and undergo an MRI on Monday.

After Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann hit back-to-back homer off Reds starter Johny Cueto, the wheels really came off for Atlanta when Cincinnati answered with three runs in that disastrous seventh.

Other than the two solo homers, Cueto (4-5) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before having it broken up by a Gregor Blanco bunt single. The young right went seven innings and allowed just the two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out three.

Blanco's choice to bunt for a single was the cause of some scrutiny. Batting in the bottom of th seventh, Reds shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. voiced his displeasure with the play to McCann.

The Braves catcher quickly stood up and exchanged words with Hairston, but things never got out of hand. Ironically, Hairston promptly laid down a bunt of his own that lead to the first of three Cincinnati runs that frame.

Ken Griffey Jr., who belted homer number 599 of his career on Saturday, was held homerless on the afternoon. He went 2-for-3 with a double and was walked intentionally during the three-run seventh inning for Cincinnati.

On Deck: The Braves head back home to Turner Field to begin a seven game homestand with four against the Florida Marlins. Jo-Jo Reyes will look to stop the slide as he matches up with Scott Olsen. Game time is set for 7:10 PM EST.