The Streaks Are Over: Heyward and Braves Defeat Yankees 4-3

The Braves nipped the Yankees 4-3 in a back and forth game that saw New York's 10 game winning streak come to a screeching halt and likewise saw Atlanta say adios to their 3 game losing streak.

Tim Hudson started for Atlanta and was not sharp, needing 109 pitches to labor through 5 innings. But, as Huddy usually does when he's off, he battled all night, came up with some clutch pitches, and put the Braves in a position to win.

The Yankees struck first in the bottom of the second. After Mark Teixeira led off with a single, Raul Ibanez and Nick Swisher hit back to back doubles, with Swisher's scoring both Tex and Ibanez. The Braves would pick up one back quickly, as Jason Heyward led off the third with a triple and came home on Andrelton Simmons RBI groundout to make it 2-1.

Atlanta would take the lead in the 4th after Martin Prado led off with a single, Freddie Freeman walked, and Chipper Jones doubled Prado home. Jason Hewyard worked a walk to load the bases for Simmons, who cashed in with a line drive right back up the middle into center. Freeman scored easily, and Braves' third base coach Brian Snitker waved Chipper home and Heyward to third. The throw came into third, and Heyward was out before Chipper could score, meaning the Braves lead stood at 3-2.

The Yankees promptly tied it back up in the bottom half of the fourth, taking advantage of errors by Freeman and Jones to score the tying run. Tim Hudson came up huge to end the 4th, striking out Curtis Granderson with the bases loaded to end the threat.

In the 5th, Hudson got two quick outs before walking Teixeira and Ibanez. Already at 105 pitches, Fredi made the questionable decision to stick with Hudson against Swisher, who had made solid contact all night against Huddy. Sure enough, Swisher responded with a frozen rope to right field. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Jason Heyward threw a better rope back home, nailing Teixiera at the plate and keeping the score tied at 3 all.

Heyward wasn't done abusing Teixeira however. With Braves on the corners and two out in the top of the sixth, Heyward hit a bullet that caught Tex square in the leg and sending the ball caroming all the way to second base. McCann would score to give the Braves a 4-3 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

The Braves pen made the lead stand up, hurling 4 innings of 1 hit ball to preserve the win. The Braves will look to win the series tomorrow at 1 P.M.

Braves MVPs:

Jason Heyward: 2-3, 3B, R, RBI, OF Assist

Braves Bullpen (Durbin, Venters, O'Flaherty, Kimbrel): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K