The Braves entered play on Thursday in dire need of two things: a win and a solid outing from a starting pitcher. They accomplished both feats, thanks in large part to Charlie Morton for an outstanding performance that saw him hold the Cardinals hitless through 61⁄3 innings. The Atlanta offense provided enough support for Morton, enabling the Braves to come away with a 4-0 victory in the series opener.
The game began with each pitcher, Morton and Cardinals starter John Gant, blanking the opposing offense for four innings. The first real scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ronald Acuna and Freddie Freeman began the frame with back-to-back singles, were unable to score as Gant pitched out of trouble.