Marcell Ozuna hits 1 of 4 Braves homers in 9-2 rout of Rays

ATLANTA (AP) — Marcell Ozuna had three hits, including one of the Braves’ four home runs, and Atlanta’s offensive resurgence continued in a 9-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Charlie Morton (4-3) allowed one run on three hits over six innings while striking out eight, walking two and hitting two batters. He also picked a runner off first.

Jarred Kelenic, in his first at-bat for the Braves after a hamstring injury against Michael Harris II, finished 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs, while Austin Riley hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Matt Olson hit his 11th home run of the season.

Ozuna’s two RBIs gave him an NL-leading 62 for the season.

Ryan Pepiot (4-4) suffered his first road loss of the season for the Rays, who have lost seven of nine. He allowed five runs on six hits, walked three and struck out four.

Ozuna’s homer came during a barrage of three homers in the fifth inning that broke the game open. With two outs and the Rays leading 1-0, Kelenic lifted one to right field that barely cleared the wall. After Ozzie Albies walked, Ozuna hit his homer 423 feet to center, then Olson followed with a solo shot.

The Braves’ offense, the majors’ most prolific in 2023, struggled in May and early June, and the team hoped the bats would warm up depending on the weather. On Saturday, the temperature in Atlanta reached 94 and the Braves had their first four-homer game since April 19. They have scored 22 points in their last three games after scoring just 16 in the previous seven games.

The Rays scored in the first inning when Josh Lowe drove in Brandon Lowe with a sacrifice fly. Randy Arozarena added a solo homer in the ninth. Braves pitchers combined to strike out 12.

FOLLOWING

Braves rookie RHP Hurston Waldrep (0-1, 17.18) will make his second Major League start against Rays RHP Zach Eflin (3-4, 4.06) in the series finale on Sunday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb