Atlanta Braves’ Brian McCann watches his three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Friday, July 19, 2013.CHICAGO – Brian McCann hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to break open a tie game and the Atlanta Braves started the second half of the season with a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Braves starter Tim Hudson (7-7) earned his third straight win after a 10-start winless streak. He pitched 7 1-3 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking two. Craig Kimbrell pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 29 outings.
White Sox starter John Danks (2-7) took his seventh loss in his last 10 starts. Danks pitched seven innings, allowing all five Atlanta runs on seven hits, including homers by McCann and Andrelton Simmons. He struck out four and walked none. Danks also uncorked a wild pitch before to McCann’s homer.
Atlanta, which ended the first half of the season losing two of its last three, snapped a five-game interleague losing streak to the White Sox.
It was Chicago’s eighth loss in its last 11 games, 22 of 31 and 32 of 45. The White Sox are now 19 games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 27, 2007, when they were 70-89.