MLB: National League notes

BRAVES: Tim Hudson pitched his 11th career shutout and Brian McCann hit a two-run homer to help Atlanta beat Cincinnati 2-0, ending the Braves’ season-high four-game losing streak. Hudson (4-2) gave up just three hits, struck out 10 and walked none. Chipper Jones, who reached base in all four at-bats, scored on McCann’s homer and had two of Atlanta’s six hits.

Also, Braves manager Bobby Cox said that John Smoltz is likely to return as the Atlanta Braves’ closer when he comes off the disabled list. Smoltz, the only pitcher in baseball history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves, has a severely inflamed biceps tendon and inflammation of the rotator cuff of his right shoulder. There is no immediate timetable for Smoltz to return to the 25-man roster.

BREWERS: Milwaukee pitcher Yovani Gallardo might need surgery after tearing a ligament in his right knee trying to avoid a collision near first base Thursday. The team said they would put Gallardo on the disabled list and reevaluate him when the swelling in his knee goes down. Gallardo started three games this season and had allowed one run before Thursday night. He gave up three against the Cubs, but two came after the injury.

Also, the Brewers cut former All-Star closer Derrick Turnbow. Turnbow was 0-1 with a 15.63 ERA in eight games this season and gave up six runs in two-thirds of an inning at Chicago on Wednesday. After converting 51 of 55 save chances at the start of his career, he went 0-6 with a 13.06 ERA from July 1 on in 2006 and lost his closer’s job to Francisco Cordero.

MARLINS: Florida placed outfielder Josh Willingham on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 28, with a lower back strain. Willingham was a late scratch for the Marlins’ game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, then wound up missing the entire three-game series. The 29-year-old Willingham was batting .341 with six home runs and 16 RBI through 25 games.

METS:NATIONALS: Washington put reliever Chad Cordero on the 15-day disabled list with a torn lat muscle and activated catcher Paul Lo Duca off the DL. Cordero is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks by the injury, which is to a muscle below his pitching shoulder. The move, retroactive to April 30, is his second trip to the disabled list this season. The right-hander has a 2.08 ERA in 41/3 innings.

PHILLIES: Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the Phillies to a 6-5 victory over San Francisco. Phillies starter and Mount Vernon High School alum Kyle Kendrick did not get the decision, but went six innings, giving up eight hits and three runs while striking out six.