Austin Riley and Matt Olson launched home runs in the first inning, with Orlando Arcia adding another in the third, as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 4-2 on Thursday night.
The Braves have now won five of their last six games.
“We’re hitting again,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “Bullpen continues to be really solid. Starting pitching has been really good. The biggest thing is the runs, putting something together consistently offensively. We’re kind of scratching the surface of doing that.”
Charlie Morton (6-6) allowed just one run on five hits over six innings, striking out six and walking two. Despite allowing the leadoff batter to reach base five times in six innings, Morton kept the Marlins at bay, only allowing an unearned run in the fifth.
“I felt good about my delivery,” Morton said. “I felt good about my four-seamer; it was getting good spin off the top. I can afford to give up hits if my four-seamer is working and my breaking ball is there.”
Marcell Ozuna went 2-for-4 with a run, and Olson was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Leadoff man Jorge Soler was 0-for-3 with a walk in his first home game since rejoining the Braves on Tuesday after being traded from the Giants. Soler was the MVP of the 2021 World Series for Atlanta. Braves closer Raisel Iglesias earned his 23rd save after A.J. Minter pitched a perfect eighth inning.
Jake Burger went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Marlins.
Newly acquired Luke Jackson entered for the Braves with two on in the seventh inning. He gave up a run-scoring single to Burger but ended the inning by getting Jesús Sánchez to ground out.
The Braves took an early lead against Marlins rookie Max Meyer (2-1). Riley homered into the right field seats with one out in the first inning. Ozuna walked, and then Olson hit another home run to right field, traveling 374 feet. It was Olson’s fifth home run in six games and 18th of the season.
Meyer pitched five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven.