Austin Riley went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and four RBIs and Charlie Morton pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning to help the visiting Atlanta Braves defeat the Chicago White Sox 9-0 on Monday.
Morton (1-0) continued his career-long dominance of the White Sox with 5 2/3 sharp innings. The veteran right-hander scattered three hits and two walks with six strikeouts to improve to 5-0 against Chicago in five starts.
Relievers Dylan Lee and Tyler Matzek completed the shutout in a game shortened to eight innings due to rain. Chicago managed just three hits, two from Yoan Moncada, while losing for the fourth time in as many games this season.
Atlanta got all the offense it would need on a Ronald Acuna Jr. RBI fielder’s choice in the third inning. Orlando Arcia added to the lead with a two-run double against White Sox starter Chris Flexen one inning later.
The White Sox had early chances against Morton but were unable to capitalize. A single, walk and hit-by-pitch allowed Chicago to load the bases in the first inning before Paul DeJong struck out to end the threat.
Chicago’s Nicky Lopez walked to start the second and Moncada doubled leading off the third before Morton escaped trouble each time. He retired 11 White Sox in a row after Moncada’s second hit and finished with 91 pitches.
Playing at Guaranteed Rate Field for the first time since 2016, the Braves saw each member of the starting lineup collect at least one hit. Ozzie Albies had two hits and an RBI.
Flexen (0-1) took the loss in his team debut, allowing four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings with three walks and a strikeout. He was charged with an earned run that scored on reliever Bryan Shaw’s wild pitch in the fifth.
The Braves added to their advantage with a pair of runs in the fifth on Albies’ RBI double and a run-scoring single from Riley. Riley hit a three-run shot in the eighth inning moments after the end of a 44-minute rain delay.
White Sox designated hitter Eloy Jimenez, who sustained a strained left adductor during Sunday’s loss to Detroit, was out of the lineup. Manager Pedro Grifol didn’t have an update before the game.
–Field Level Media