The Atlanta Braves hit three of their four homers in the fifth inning and got six strong innings from starting pitcher Charlie Morton to beat the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Saturday and extend their winning streak to three games.
Trailing 1-0 in the fifth, Jarred Kelenic hit a two-run shot, his fifth, to give the Braves the lead. After Ozzie Albies walked, Marcell Ozuna hit his National League leading 20th homer, a 423-foot shot to center field. Matt Olson followed with his 11th homer, the third time this season he and Ozuna have gone back-to-back.
Austin Riley put the game away with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, his fifth. He has gone deep in back-to-back games after going homerless for a career-long 90 at-bats.
Morton (4-3) bounced back from a subpar effort against Washington, when he allowed five runs in five innings. The veteran worked six innings and allowed one run on three hits and two walks and matched his season high of eight strikeouts.
Relievers Aaron Bummer struck out the side in the seventh and Pierce Johnson worked around a hit in a scoreless eighth. But Ray Kerr surrendered a solo homer to Randy Arozarena, his ninth, ending is 26-game homerless streak.
Tampa Bay starter Ryan Pepiot (4-4) was knocked out after allowing his third home run. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on six hits, three walks and four strikeouts. Pepiot has allowed five homers over his last two starts.
The Rays scored a run in the first inning when Brandon Lowe scored on Josh Lowe’s sacrifice fly.
Tampa Bay’s Yandy Diaz went 1-for-4 with a walk and extended his streak of reaching base in 18 consecutive games.
The Braves placed center fielder Michael Harris II on the injured list with a left hamstring strain and recalled Ramon Laureano from Triple-A Gwinnett. Atlanta Laureano started in right field and went 1-for-4.
–Field Level Media