Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Braves rookie pitcher Charlie Morton looked to his left and saw first baseman Mark Teixeira, and looked to his right and saw third baseman Chipper Jones.

"It's the same game; that's what everybody tells you," Morton said. "But in a lot of ways it's not. It's a cool feeling to look over there and see those two guys and to know who's behind you."

Phil Skinner/PHIL SKINNER / AJC (ENLARGE)

The Braves' Scott Thorman greets UGA player Gordon Beckham during Wednesday's exhibition opener.

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Morton allowed one hit and no walks with one strikeout in two innings Wednesday in an 8-0 exhibition victory against the University of Georgia at Champion Stadium.

It won't count in the Grapefruit League statistics, but the lanky right-hander was credited with the win in his first game in a major league uniform.

Jones had a two-run double for the Braves, who used most of the lineup regulars for two plate appearances before turning things over to backups, prospects and other minor-leaguers. Minor-leaguers handled all the pitching.

Morton, 24, is expected to begin the season at Class AAA Richmond. His improvement late last season in Class AA and the Arizona Fall League has the Braves believing he could be ready soon to help the major-league team.

"He didn't have his blazing fastball today, but he pitched great and only gave up one hit," manager Bobby Cox said. "They all were around the plate today."

Top of lineup produces early

Batting in the first two spots in the lineup, Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar each singled and scored on Jones' double in a three-run second inning.

"I'm trying for that SEC Player of the Week [award]," cracked Jones, who also walked. "I'm batting 1.000, slugging over 1.000. My numbers in this game have got to be pretty good over the years. Can we take those to arbitration?"

The third baseman liked what he saw from Morton and Zach Schreiber, who had three strikeouts in two inings.

"[Morton] threw all his pitches for strikes," he said. "The young guys don't normally have control of their second and third pitches. He looked like he did.

"If he keeps that up, I'm sure we'll have a spot for him in the future."

Hudson to start, but infield to rest

The Braves will leave their starting infield behind when they travel to Vero Beach, Fla., for their Grapefruit League opener Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pitcher Tim Hudson gets the start, and catcher Brian McCann and outfielders Matt Diaz and Jeff Francoeur will make the trip, but center fielder Mark Kotsay won't be on the two-hour bus ride to Vero. Kotsay's surgically repaired back feels good, and the Braves want to do all they can to keep it that way.

Hudson is scheduled to work two innings and get relief from right-handers Blaine Boyer, Chris Resop, Matt DeSalvo and Manny Acosta. The Dodgers plan to start right-hander Jason Johnson.