Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Tim Hudson gave up just one unearned run as Atlanta defeated Pittsburgh, 8-1, to help the Braves split a doubleheader with the Pirates at PNC Park.

Hudson (6-2) settled down after a first inning run and wound up throwing seven innings of two-hit ball to win his third straight start. He also walked two while striking out five for the Braves, who avoided a four-game sweep.

"It was a big day for us today," said Hudson. "We would have loved to get that first one for J.J.(Jair Jurrjens), but we couldn't get much across the board there in the first game. The second game was big. The guys came out and had some big at-bats. I just went out there and kept them (Pittsburgh) from scoring."

Brian McCann hit a three-run home run while Mark Kotsay went 3-for-5 with three RBI for Atlanta, which has the best home record in the majors (14-4), but is also saddled with the worst road record (5-14).

John Van Benschoten (0-2) was banged up for seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts in four-plus innings of work for the Pirates, who had their first six-game winning streak in almost four years stopped. Doug Mientkiewicz had a double and scored the lone run.

"You know it's tough, especially when your playing a team like the Braves," said Pittsburgh second baseman Freddy Sanchez. "You know their not going to lie down after losing Game 1. They came after us, they just played a better ballgame then we did in Game 2."

In the first game, Freddy Sanchez doubled in three runs and Zach Duke pitched six scoreless innings for his second straight win, as Pittsburgh captured a 5-0 victory.

The Pirates got on the board in the first as Mientkiewicz punched a one-out double and scored when Nate McLouth hit a grounder to the first base side that went off the glove of Greg Norton and into the outfield.

Atlanta tied the game in the third inning. Gregor Blanco led off with a bunt single and later stole second. With two outs, Yunel Escobar laced a single to center to score Blanco.

The Braves then took the lead in the fourth. With one out, Norton hit a grounder to third that completely handcuffed Mientkiewicz. Jeff Francoeur then followed with a single to center and Kotsay's double to right-center chased home both runners for a 3-1 lead.

Atlanta solidified its lead in the fifth. Kelly Johnson led off with a single and Escobar followed with a walk. Chipper Jones' single to right scored Johnson and McCann then belted a pitch into the right field stands for a 7-1 advantage.

The Braves tacked on another run in the seventh as Francoeur hit a one-out single and Kotsay then followed with an RBI double to make it an 8-1 game.

Hudson, meanwhile was solid after the first inning. He retired Pittsburgh in order in the second, third, sixth and seventh innings, while allowing just one runner in the fourth and fifth.

Blaine Boyer threw a scoreless eighth inning while Will Ohman closed down the Pirates in the ninth.