Braves crush Tigers for sixth consecutive victory

The Braves are looking to at least end a disappointing season on a high note, as they took out the reeling Tigers 10-1 for their sixth consecutive win.

Bryce Elder got back on track with seven strong innings in the series opener. He allowed just five hits and zero walks with six strikeouts.

The 26-year-old has gone at least six innings while allowing two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts. Elder’s ERA has dropped from 6.29 to 5.36 in that stretch.

Ronald Acuña Jr. backed up his three-hit night Wednesday with a two-run home run off his former teammate, Charlie Morton, in the second inning.

The Tigers have lost four straight and seven of their last eight, allowing the Cleveland Guardians to pull within three games of first place in the AL Central. They have been outscored 17-2 in their past three games.

The Braves scored three runs in each of the first two innings against Morton. He allowed six runs while only getting four outs.

Jurickson Profar led off the game with a double, and Morton hit Matt Olson. It was the 200th time Morton had hit a batter, making him the fifth pitcher in MLB history to reach that dubious milestone and the first in 98 years.

Morton walked Acuña and Drake Baldwin to force in a run. Ozzie Albies followed with a two-run single.

Morton escaped the inning without further damage, but Nacho Alvarez Jr. started the second with an infield single. Profar grounded out, but Olson hit an RBI double to make the score 4-0, and Acuña’s two-run homer ended Morton’s night.

Spencer Torkelson made the score 6-1 in the fourth with his 30th homer, but Elder only allowed four other hits.

Ha-Seong Kim increased the lead to 8-1 with a two-run homer in the eighth and Baldwin hit a two-run homer in the ninth.

Key moment

The Tigers had a chance for a rally when Parker Meadows tripled with two out in the third inning, but Elder got Gleyber Torres to ground out to third.