MLB: Atlanta 6, Colorado 3

ATLANTA, July 7 (UPI) -- Tim Hudson allowed five hits and Freddie Freeman hit a three-run home run Thursday in a 6-3 Atlanta Braves win over the Colorado Rockies.

Hudson (8-6) gave up just two hits after the third inning before being lifting with one out in the eighth. He walked three and struck out three.

Jonny Venters ended a Rockies' threat in the eighth with a strike out and Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 27th save.

The Braves scored five times in the third to beat Juan Nicasio (3-2). He lasted 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and seven hits while walking three.

Jordan Schafer led off the inning with a double and scored on a base hit by Alex Gonzalez. After Chipper Jones singled, Freeman drilled a home run to left-center. It was his 13th homer of the year.

Dan Uggla followed with a double and made the score 5-2 when Jason Heyward singled.

Heyward added a home run in the fifth -- his ninth of the season -- for Atlanta's final run.

Jason Giambi doubled in one run and got an RBI with a fielder's choice for the first two Colorado runs. Mark Ellis scored on a wild pitch in the eighth for the other.