Atlanta, GA -- (Sports Network) - Brian McCann hit a bases-loaded double, while Brent Lillibridge went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in, as Atlanta held off Washington, 7-6, in the opener of a three-game set with the Nationals.

Tim Hudson (10-7) gave up five runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 frames and picked up the win. He also struck out two and walked one for the Braves, who have won three in a row.

"I didn't really have a good feel for where the ball was going," Hudson said. "Location wasn't very good. But I was good enough at times to make some pitches. It was nice to go out there and win one of these types of games."

Mark Kotsay and Kelly Johnson each drove in one run, while Mike Gonzalez got into, then out of a jam in the ninth to pick up his fourth save.

Tim Redding (7-4) took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits in just four innings for the Nationals, who have lost three straight games.

"Any loss is difficult. It doesn't matter if you've had three days off or one day off," Redding said. "It's the first game after an All-Star break. That's all it is."

Paul Lo Duca finished with two RBI, while Ryan Langerhans went 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI.

After six innings the Nationals were down by four runs, though they scored two in the top of the seventh to whittle down the deficit, then staged a comeback in the ninth.

Langerhans began the frame against Gonzalez with a fly out, but pinch-hitter Felipe Lopez roped a single to center. Willie Harris followed with a double into right field to put both runners in scoring position.

Lo Duca plated one run by hitting a high chopper to second base. He was thrown out on the play, but Lopez raced home to bring Washington within a run and move the tying run to third base.

Gonzalez inadvertently helped himself by hitting Cristian Guzman -- a .313 hitter coming into the game -- on the left hand. That brought up Austin Kearns, who sported a .205 average.

Kearns swung at the first pitch and smoked it to right field, but Jeff Francoeur was there to make the catch and end the game. In the process of Washington's rally, the Braves improved to 6-22 in one-run contests this season.

The Braves put up two runs in the second inning to take the early lead. Mark Teixeira led off with a double, and Francoeur was later hit by a pitch. Lillibridge drove them both in by blasting a high breaking ball to center field.

The Nationals tied the game in the third. After Kory Casto doubled, Langerhans hit an RBI double over Kotsay's head in center field, and later scored on Lo Duca's line single to center.

Atlanta charged ahead in the bottom half, though, thanks to a loss of control by Redding. The Nationals starter walked Gregor Blanco, gave up a one-out single to Chipper Jones and walked Teixeira to load the bases.

McCann then reached out and slapped a low-and-away pitch to the right field wall, clearing the bases. The Braves catcher ended up on third base after a throw home, and later scored on Kotsay's single to put the Braves up 6-2.

Ronnie Belliard's RBI single in the sixth, and Johnson's RBI hit in the bottom half put the score at 7-3. In the top of the seventh, Jesus Flores drove in one run with a sacrifice fly, and Guzman's single later brought in Harris to bring the Nationals within 7-5.

Game Notes

On Friday, Washington placed outfielder Wily Mo Pena on the 15-day disabled list and reinstated Johnny Estrada, who started at catcher and went 0-for-4. Lo Duca, one of four catchers the Nationals have on their roster, played first base...Atlanta's August 9 game at Arizona has been rescheduled to start at 8:10 p.m. (et)...The Braves are 6-5 in one-run games at home.