Charlie Morton gave up one run and two hits in 5 1/3 innings and got just enough offensive support as the Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 Sunday afternoon in Anaheim, Calif.
Marcell Ozuna had two hits and Ramon Laureano homered for the Braves, who won two of three in the series. Three relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, to finish it off.
Ex-Angel Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save.
The Braves put pressure on Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz (1-3) immediately, Michael Harris II leading off the game with a walk and Austin Riley reaching after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand.
Riley initially stayed in the game but was removed to start the bottom of the first inning. Luke Williams took his place at third base.
Kochanowicz got Ozuna to hit into a double play, the first of three induced by the Angels right-hander. Matt Olson, however, slashed a two-out RBI single to left field to score Harris for a 1-0 Atlanta lead.
The Braves loaded the bases with one out in the third for Olson, but Kochanowicz got the inning-ending double play, thanks to third baseman Brandon Drury.
Olson hit a sharp one-hopper toward the hole at short, but Drury dived to his left and snagged the ball, starting a 5-6-3 double play.
The Braves increased their lead to 2-0 in the fourth on Laureano’s leadoff homer, his seventh of the season, a 442-foot blast on a 1-2 curveball that Kochanowicz left up in the zone.
Morton (7-7) held the Angels hitless through four innings before Los Angeles broke through in the fifth with one run, but missed a chance for more.
Drury led off with a single and Matt Thaiss walked. Jo Adell followed with a single, loading the bases with nobody out for Mickey Moniak. Moniak was hit by a pitch on his left foot, forcing in a run.
With Michael Stefanic at the plate, Angels manager Ron Washington called for a squeeze play, sending Thaiss from third. Stefanic, however, fouled off the bunt attempt.
On the next pitch, Thaiss again broke for the plate, but Stefanic swung away and fouled out to first for the first out of the inning. Morton escaped when he got Taylor Ward to hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
Kochanowicz got through six innings for the Angels, allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks. He did not strike out a batter.
–Field Level Media
