ATLANTA --- David Wright knew the New York Mets couldn't afford to let Tim Hudson find his rhythm.
"You have to get to that guy early if you're going to get to him at all," Wright said. "When he settles down, he gets stronger and stronger."
Wright homered, Johan Santana won for the first time in four starts and New York snapped the Atlanta Braves' five-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Thursday night.
The Mets, who had dropped three in a row, broke a 13-game stretch in which they scored three runs or less against the NL East-leading Braves.
Hudson (15-6) lost for the first time in nine starts after allowing eight hits and four runs -- three earned -- with one walk and four strikeouts in seven innings. His ERA rose six points to 2.30.
"Spotting them two in the first wasn't really the way we wanted to get things going," Hudson said. "That's not what you want to do against a front-line starter."
Santana (11-9) left after five innings, his shortest outing in 23 starts. He threw 65 pitches, 43 for strikes. The Mets later announced that the left-hander had a strained pectoral muscle and was listed as day-to-day.
Santana allowed three hits, one run and one walk with three strikeouts to avoid losing four consecutive starts for the first time since May 18-June 3, 2004 with Minnesota.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the first off Hudson, who was 6-0 with a 1.43 ERA in his previous eight starts.
Hudson had beaten the Mets in four consecutive starts. Overall, his last loss was July 17 against Milwaukee. The right-hander dropped to 12-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 19 career starts against New York.
Hudson, who earlier in the day was named the NL pitcher of the month for August, lost for the first time since July 17 against Milwaukee.
Brian McCann hit his 20th home run of the season for Atlanta.
ATLANTA BRAVES AT FLORIDA MARLINS
Kenshin Kawakami (1-9, 4.75) vs. Andrew Miller (0-0, 4.50)
7:10 - SportSouth - Sun Life Stadium
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