Braves set first-half HR record to back ageless Morton

ST. PETERSBURG — On an evening when the Braves set an AL/NL file for residence runs earlier than the All-Star break, the actual energy was displayed by the correct arm of 39-year-old Charlie Morton and the membership’s shutdown bullpen.

The Braves managed simply two hits — considered one of them a homer (in fact) — and that was sufficient to defeat the Rays, 2-1, on Friday night time at Tropicana Field in a matchup of baseball’s prime two groups.

The Braves (59-28), who’ve gained 26 of their previous 30 video games, wanted only one jolt, a fourth-inning two-run homer from All-Star catcher Sean Murphy. It was the twenty fourth consecutive sport wherein Atlanta homered, one off the Modern Era (since 1900) franchise file. The Braves have 167 homers, placing them on tempo for 311, which might prime the 2019 Twins (307) for the Major League file.

From there, the outcome was iced away by the stellar pitching of Morton and the bullpen of A.J. Minter, Nick Anderson and Raisel Iglesias. Morton, who pitched for the Rays in 2019-20, allowed simply 4 hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings whereas strolling two and hanging out six.

“Charlie was actually, actually good and really environment friendly,’’ Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “He simply retains wonderful me. The ball was popping out of his hand actually good tonight.’’

Morton stated he didn’t place any expectations on himself, however he has been happy along with his first-half outcomes.

“It’s extra like I do know if I’ve thrown the ball effectively or if I haven’t,’’ Morton stated. “It’s not essentially primarily based on outcomes, as a result of the outcomes come from throwing the ball effectively. But I feel I’ve appeared again at extra outings than not [this season] and stated, ‘Man, I did what I tried to do with the ball.’ So in that regard, I feel I’m principally glad.’’

“He’s completely different,’’ Murphy stated. “I imply, a whole lot of guys are 39, however to nonetheless be doing what he’s doing, pitching on the stage he’s pitching at, it’s good to be round him. They don’t come round too typically [like Morton].’’

Murphy had the game-deciding blow — a two-run homer off Rays starter Tyler Glasnow after Matt Olson reached on a one-out error — but additionally carried out effectively within the sport’s little issues. He expertly managed the pitching employees and threw out two runners towards the Rays, who lead MLB with 110 stolen bases.

“That was huge … simply big, big,’’ Snitker stated. “I imply, when runs are at a premium, all these performs are huge. The infield [surface] is form of quick. If these hops get by an infielder, something can occur.

“It’s about profitable the sport. I don’t care the way you do it or who will get [the winning hit]. We solely obtained two hits, however considered one of them was a very huge one. It was a kind of video games the place you’re not going to bunch a whole lot of hits collectively. We had been lucky that Sean obtained into one.’’

Murphy stated probably the most spectacular factor in regards to the Braves’ homer-happy season is how the facility has been distributed by the lineup.

“That’s the fantastic thing about this lineup,’’ Murphy stated. “It’s not the identical man each night time. It would not need to be. And if it isn’t your day, hopefully it is someone else’s and so they choose up the slack.’’

Outside of Murphy’s homer, Glasnow held the Braves in verify. Glasnow, who struck out eight, was eliminated within the sixth inning with cramping in his left hand. But Atlanta had no higher luck towards reliever Elvin Rodriguez, making his Rays debut, who tossed 3 1/3 excellent innings with 5 strikeouts.

The Rays (57-34), on a season-high six-game dropping streak, opened the scoring with Wander Franco’s solo homer on Morton’s third pitch of the sport. After that, although, the Braves’ pitching employees was stingy.

The Rays by no means obtained a runner to 3rd base and had solely three runners in scoring place. In the eighth, with two runners aboard, Anderson coaxed Franco into an inning-ending grounder. In the ninth, after Harold Ramírez smacked a two-out double, Iglesias struck out Taylor Walls to finish the sport.