For the second time in his last three outings, Atlanta Braves starter Charlie Morton was pulled from the game before completing three innings of work.
Helpless against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, Morton (6-7) had a nightmare in a 16-7 loss to the Braves.
The gunner allowed nine hits, including four home runs, as well as eight runs in two and two-thirds innings. On July 26, Morton was also removed from a game against the New York Mets after two and two-thirds innings.
The four that Morton allowed was a career high.
Morton wasn’t the only Braves pitcher who struggled on Thursday as Parker Dunshee, who replaced Morton in the third inning, allowed four hits and five runs in just 2 1/3 innings.
The Braves are leading 13-3 after five innings of the game.
Jackson Chourio was a key player in the Brewers’ offensive success with three hits, including two home runs, as well as four RBIs. Wilmer Contreras produced three points in the game, especially because of his 13th ball of the campaign.
Garrett Mitchell, Willy Adames and Jake Bauers also hit home runs in the Brewers’ win.
Milwaukee starter Frankie Montas allowed two hits, four walks and three runs in four innings pitched, in addition to striking out seven batters.
Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna hit a long ball on the Braves’ backhand. Ozuna is fourth in the MLB behind Aaron Judge (41), Shohei Ohtani (34) and Anthony Santander (34).
Thursday’s win allowed the Brewers to sweep the three-game series between the two teams. They scored 34 runs in three outings and allowed only 12 runs to the Braves.
Sweep priests
Luis Arraez hit a productive double to cap a three-run ninth inning that gave the San Diego Padres the lead, who eventually won 7-6 to sweep their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon.
With the Padres trailing 5-4, Pirates reliever David Bednar (3-4) gave up a single to Xander Bogaerts and walked Jackson Merrill to start the ninth before striking out David Peralta on a pickoff and gave a free pass to Ha-Seong Kim to fill the goals.
Bogaerts crossed home plate on a Kyle Higashioka grounder before Oneil Cruz missed on a double play, allowing Merrill to cross home plate.
Bednar was removed from the game after Arraez hit a double to right to score the winning run.
The Padres have won their last five games and 14 of their last 16 to move within two and a half games of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in their division.
The Pirates have lost four games in a row and five of their last six. Trailing 4-0, they scored three runs in the sixth.
Jason Adam (6-2) allowed one out in the top of the eighth before striking out the next three batters.
Manny Machado and Peralta each hit two-run long balls against Luis Ortiz in the first two innings. Ortiz allowed four runs and four hits in six innings.
Randy Vasquez, for his part, allowed three runs and six hits in five and two-thirds innings.
Elsewhere in MLB
Giants 9 – Nationals 5 (10 manches)
SF : Singles by Brett Wisely, Michael Conforto and Matt Chapman allowed the Giants to score four runs in the 10th inning.
THE : Luis Garcia Jr. productive with two hits, including a home run, as well as two runs scored and two RBIs.
Mets 9 – Rockies 1
NYM : Pete Alonso hit two long balls to reach the 25 home run plateau, and he finished the game with three RBI.
COL : Starter Austin Gomber (3-8) allowed six hits and five runs in three innings of work.
Red – Marlins
CIN :
MIA :
Angels – Yankees
LAA :
NYY :
Rays – Cardinals
TB :
STL :
Tigers – Sailors
THE :
sea :
Phillies – Diamondbacks
The PHI :
property :