Atlanta Braves Take Game One From Mets in Dominant Fashion

The Atlanta Braves began a four-game series against the New York Mets on Friday night. Charlie Morton took the ball in hopes to get back on track after seeing the team lose his last four starts. Tylor Megill started on the mound for the Mets.

Game Summary

Morton was able to escape danger in the first two innings of the game. Across the opening frames, he surrendered 2 hits and 3 walks.

After Megill shut the Braves offense down for the first three innings, Morton found himself in the same predicament in the bottom of the third. He got the leadoff man to fly out and then walked the next two batters he faced.

Charlie Morton played magician once more after a strikeout of Daniel Vogelbach and a Mark Vientos pop-up kept the game scoreless through three full innings of play.

A double by Austin Riley that was inches from being a home run followed by a bloop single from Matt Olson had Atlanta threatening in the top of the 4th. Marcell Ozuna added a swinging bunt to load the bases for Eddie Rosario.

A hit from Rosario that was bobbled by Brandon Nimmo in right center field cleared the bases to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

The Mets were in position to respond in the bottom half but left two runners on base for the fourth consecutive inning.

Ozzie Albies added to the Braves' lead with a single down the right-field line but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. It did however move Ronald Acuna up to third for the middle of the order.

Austin Riley took advantage of the opportunity by scoring Acuna with a sacrifice fly pushing the lead to 5-0. Charlie Morton tossed his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the bottom of the 5th to put himself in line for the win.

Rosario continued his impressive night at the plate with an RBI double in the top of the 6th giving the Braves a 6-0 advantage.

Charlie Morton started the 6th inning but was removed after giving up a leadoff single on his 105th pitch of the night. He finished with 5 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 runs, 7 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Charlie may not have had his best stuff on Friday night but he fought through adversity and gave the Braves a good chance to win which is what the team has been looking for.

Pierce Johnson was the first man out of the Atlanta bullpen and he continued to show why he was a great trade deadline acquisition by retiring the first three batters he faced to end the inning.

It wouldn't be an Atlanta Braves game without a homerun, so Austin Riley added a solo shot, his 27th of the year in the 7th inning.

This would be the last offense of the night as the Braves held on to win by a score of 7-0. This was a great win for the Braves all the way around.

Charlie Morton found a way to compete and work through adversity. He walked a career-high seven batters but did not allow a run. He will still want to get the walks down but has to feel good about his performance Friday night.

Every night it seems the Braves offense is highlighted by a great performance from someone different. Eddie Rosario who drove in three runs and Austin Riley who drove in two and was just a triple away from the cycle lead the way on Friday.

Pitchers of Record

W: ATL: Charlie Morton (5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 7 BB's, 4 K's)

L: NYM: Tylor Megill (5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's)

Braves Bullpen

Pierce Johnson- 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB's, 2 K's

Brad Hand- 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB's, 0 K's

Kirby Yates- 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

A.J. Minter- 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K's

Homeruns

Austin Riley (27)

Next Game

8/12/2023 @NYM 1:10 p.m. ET

8/12/2023 @NYM 7:15 p.m. ET