Charlie Morton, Braves cruise past Pirates

Field Level Media|published: Fri 28th June, 22:32 2024

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves

Jun 28, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Charlie Morton gave up just three hits over 6 1/3 shutout innings and Marcel Ozuna hit a three-run double to highlight a five-run third inning and lead the host Atlanta Braves to a 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.

Morton (5-4) didn't allow a hit over the first 4 1/3 innings until Ke'Bryan Hayes bounced a single into center. The right-hander walked one and struck out seven. The win over the Pirates was the first of his career and completed the circuit of having beaten all 30 major league teams, joining Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole as the only active pitchers to accomplish that feat.

Austin Riley homered, Ozzie Albies doubled among his two hits and Matt Olson contributed two hits and an RBI for the Braves, who improved to 18-5 against the Pirates all-time at Truist Park, which opened in 2017.

Martin Perez (1-4) suffered the loss. The left-hander, activated earlier Friday off the 15-day injured list after missing a month with a groin injury, gave up six runs on eight hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Hayes finished with a double and two hits, and Bryan Reynolds had a ground single to center in the eighth inning to extend his hitting streak to 24 games, the longest in the majors this season and the longest by a Pirate since Kenny Lofton had a 26-gamer in 2003.

Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Riley led off with his ninth home run of the season, a 423-foot drive to center.

The Braves sent nine batters to the plate in breaking the game open with a five-run third. Ozuna made it 4-0 when he cleared the bases with a three-run double to left. Olson then drove in Ozuna with a single. Riley followed with a fielder's choice and scored one out later on Adam Duvall's double.

Hayes broke up the shutout with two outs in the ninth when he lined a double into the gap in right-center to drive in Connor Joe, who led off the inning with a pinch-hit double.

--Field Level Media