MILWAUKEE — Dan Uggla would like to see the Atlanta Braves play with some swagger again.
The Braves ran their scoreless streak to 24 innings Saturday with a second straight 2-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
“We’ve got to pick up our attitude; we’ve got to pick up our intensity,” he said. “To get out of a stretch like this, you’ve got to hustle, make things happen.”
Atlanta has not scored since the third inning of its 4-3 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday. Atlanta has been shut out a majors leading 11 times this season.
They got four hits Saturday after getting just two in the series opener a night earlier.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said the Braves are not swinging the bat well.
“We’re getting on base, but when we do hit the ball hard, it’s at somebody or somebody makes a good play,” he said. “I feel like, at any moment, some of the at-bats that you’re seeing, at any moment you’re going to turn that around.”
Tim Hudson (4-7) lost his sixth straight decision, despite giving up just two runs and seven hits in six innings. He allowed RBI singles to Juan Francisco, in the fourth, and Aramis Ramirez, in the fifth inning. The Braves have scored just 10 runs in Hudson’s last nine starts. He has not won in nine starts, his worst winless stretch of his career since an eight-start stretch in 2002.
Hudson said the Braves are just in tough stretch.
“It’s baseball, it happens. There’s no panic on our part,” he said. “Guys understand that’s how it is. You come across some pretty good pitching. A young kid today going out there and making his first start, excited about being out there. You’ve got to tip your hat to the guy that’s on the mound.”
Francisco Rodriguez earned his 300th save. Given another opportunity by the Brewers in May, Rodriguez has made it pay off.
Rodriguez went 2-7 with a 4.38 ERA during the 2012 season and was released by the Brewers, but they re-signed him in May and he has converted all six save chances this year.
“A lot of people thought that I was done, that I had retired,” he said. “People forgot that I was just 31 years old. In my career, just last year was a really bad year. I know what I am capable of doing.”
Rodriguez gave up one of the Braves’ four hits in becoming the 25th closer in major league history to reach the 300-save milestone. He was aided by a barehanded pickup and throw by shortstop Jean Segura to get leadoff hitter Jordan Shafer.
Andrelton Simmons then singled, but Rodriguez got Jason Heyward to line out and Freddie Freeman struck out. After the strikeout, Rodriguez pumped his fist and pointed to the sky.
“It feels great,” Rodriguez said. “You have no idea how happy and excited I am. I have to continue working hard and hopefully play for many years to come.”
Donovan Hand, making his first big league start, allowed only two hits in 4 2/3 innings for Milwaukee. He struck out three and walked one in helping extend Atlanta’s scoreless streak to 24 innings.
Burke Badenhop (1-3) entered after Hand walked Uggla and got Chris Johnson to groundout to end the fifth.
Milwaukee has beaten Atlanta eight straight times at Miller Park, outscoring them 31-9.
Donovan Hand, making his first big league start, allowed only two hits in 4 2/3 innings for Milwaukee. He struck out three and walked one.
Notes
The Braves last scored in the third inning of their 4-3 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday. ... Gonzalez said RHP Brandon Beachy would throw a bullpen session next week as he continues to try to come back from Tommy John surgery in June 2012. He felt tenderness in his pitching arm during his fifth minor league start June 13. ... Brewers RHP Alfredo Figaro (1-1) will start in the series finale Sunday against Atlanta (LHP) Paul Maholm (7-6).