The Braves bats didn't come through when they needed to.

Atlanta managed eight hits against James McDonald in 5.1 innings, but they couldn't get the big hit and dropped the opening game of this four-game series with the Pirates 3-1.

Braves starter Tim Hudson allowed only five hits in seven innings but issued three walks, two of them leading off the second inning. Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez were on base when Lyle Overbay flied out to Nate McLouth. Instead of throwing to second, McLouth threw the ball to third, allowing Alvarez to advance to second. Ronny Cedeno's groundout could've been a double play to end the inning, but McCutchen scored and Michael McKenry delivered an RBI single to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead. They added their third run in the sixth when Hudson walked Garrett Jones with one out and two batters later, allowed Andrew McCutchen's RBI single.

Meanwhile, the Braves offense put together five hits between the second and third innings, but managed no runs. Their best chance to score came in the sixth inning. Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla hit consecutive singles with one out and David Ross reached on catcher's interference to load the bases. That ended McDonald's night, and he was pulled for Chris Resop. The former Braves reliever induced a foul pop-up from Nate McLouth and struck out Alex Gonzalez swinging. Gonzalez was 0 for 4, striking out three times and stranding six runners. The entire offense left nine on base.

The lone Braves run was a home run from Chipper Jones leading off the eighth inning against Daniel McCutchen.

Joel Hanrahan retired the side in order in the ninth for the save.