MLB: Atlanta 1, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

ATLANTA, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Tim Hudson turned in his fifth straight dominating performance Friday, throwing eight scoreless innings to lead Atlanta past the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0.

Hudson (14-5) gave up three hits and struck out six to boost his bid for the National League Cy Young Award. In his last five outings, all victories, he has given up two runs in 36 2/3 innings.

Atlanta won its third in a row and increased its lead over second-place Philadelphia in the National League East to three games.

The only run came on a homer by Brooks Conrad in the seventh off LA starter Hiroki Kuroda (8-11). It was Conrad's second homer in three games since replacing the injured Chipper Jones at third base.

Billy Wagner picked up his 29th save despite giving up a leadoff single to Scott Podsednik in the ninth. With one out, Wagner picked Podsednik off base and then struck out Andre Ethier to end the game.

Kuroda gave up four hits over seven innings. Although Manager Joe Torre announced prior to the game that he had removed Jonathan Broxton from the closing role, he brought Broxton in to work the eighth with his team trailing by a run.

Broxton, who gave up four runs in the ninth Thursday to blow a save opportunity for the fifth time, gave up a hit but did not allow the Braves a run.