Morton untouched despite career-high 7 walks as Braves beat Mets again
NEW YORK — Eddie Rosario had three RBIs and Charlie Morton won despite issuing seven walks — his most in 345 career starts — over five-plus innings as the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 7-0 on Friday night.
Austin Riley finished a triple shy of the cycle and had two RBIs for the major league-leading Braves, who are 6-1 this year against the Mets and need one more win to clinch the season series for the sixth straight season. Atlanta is 57-36 versus New York since 2018.
Ozzie Albies added a run-scoring single for the Braves.
Morton (11-10) gave up three hits and struck out four. He had just one 1-2-3 inning but limited the Mets to one hit in 11 at-bats with runners on. The 39-year-old right-hander became the 11th starting pitcher in big league history to throw five scoreless innings while walking at least seven.
Morton is the third starting pitcher this season to win while walking seven, joining Jack Flaherty (April 1) and Dylan Cease (Aug. 7).
Morton entered Friday having walked six batters in a game just once — on June 9, 2018, when he was pitching for the Houston Astros against Texas.
Pete Alonso drew three walks for the Mets, who stranded a season-high 14 runners. New York was blanked for the 12th time.
Tylor Megill (6-6) gave up six runs (five earned) in 5 1/3 innings.
LINDOR'S STREAK ENDS
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was scratched because of soreness on his right side about 30 minutes before the first pitch, ending his streak of consecutive games played at 223.
That left nine players who have played in all of their team's games this season — including four Braves: Riley, Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: LHP Dylan Lee (shoulder inflammation) worked a scoreless inning in his third rehab appearance for Triple-A Gwinnett.
Mets: Lindor is scheduled to undergo testing Saturday. He was sidelined for five weeks in 2021 due to a right oblique strain. … OF Tim Locastro (back spasms) is with the Mets but has not yet been activated. … RF Starling Marte (right groin) began increasing activity.
UP NEXT
The teams play a day-night doubleheader Saturday, with the first game a makeup of an April 29 postponement. Mets LHP José Quintana (0-3, 3.42 ERA) and Braves RHP Spencer Strider (12-4, 3.94) were the only announced starters.
