HOUSTON - Braves starter Charlie Morton left Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night with a fractured right fibula he suffered when getting hit by a 102-mph liner. Morton is out for the remainder of the World Series, the Braves announced.
Morton took a hard-hit ball off his ankle in the second inning. Yuli Gurriel hit a 102-mph liner that popped off Morton. First baseman Freddie Freeman recovered the ball and got the out. Morton finished the inning but indicated pain after striking out Jose Altuve to begin the third frame. He visited with trainers and walked off the field with an evident limp as the swelling grew intolerable.
Morton held the Astros to one hit over 2-1/3 innings. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first frame. The Braves’ offense chased Houston starter Framber Valdez after just two innings, building a 5-0 lead. A.J. Minter replaced Morton in the third.
Losing Morton is a brutal blow for the Braves, who are down to two traditional starters in Max Fried and Ian Anderson. The team already planned to use a bullpen game for Game 4. Drew Smyly, Kyle Wright and Jesse Chavez are pitchers on the roster who can provide length.
Morton is expected to be ready for the start of spring training, according to the Braves. The team signed him to a one-year, $20 million extension earlier this season.
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