PORT CHARLOTTE — Charlie Morton’s surprisingly gritty at-bat against Ryan Yarbrough, his eventual fly out to right, and the smiles exchanged were the on-field highlights of the now-Braves pitcher’s first meeting against his ex-mates.
“I was trying to get his attention because he ended the inning and I was expecting him to say something, and he just kind of like smiled at me,’' Yarbrough said Sunday. “So I was just cheesing at him.
Morton said afterward that he wasn’t surprised the Rays declined his $15 million option for this season, leading to him signing with Atlanta for the same amount.