Tough break for Braves

HOUSTON — Charlie Morton spun a curveball past Jose Altuve for a called third strike, his 16th pitch after taking a 102 mph comebacker off his right leg. Morton stumbled and started to fall. Turns out the leg was broken.

“I wouldn’t think it’s possible,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said. “It’s incredible that he even like thought of going out there.”

Morton’s right fibula was fractured by Yuli Gurriel’s one-hop screamer leading off the second inning of Tuesday night’s World Series opener, a ball hit so hard it ricocheted to first baseman Freddie Freeman for an out.

By the time Morton faced Altuve leading off the third with a 5-0 lead, the leg had started to swell. Four relievers combined to pitch 6 ⅔ innings and finish a 6-2 victory over the Astros.

Morton’s World Series was over soon after it started.

“You don’t wish bad on anybody,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “Charlie Morton is one of the best guys around, too.”

The Braves replaced Morton’s spot on the roster with left-hander Tucker Davidson ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2, which ended too late for this edition.

The 25-year-old Davidson had a 3.60 ERA in four big league starts this season, all in May and June, after making his debut in the majors in 2020. He was 2-2 with a 1.17 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Gwinnett, making his last appearance on Oct. 3. He missed much of the season with left forearm inflammation.

Davidson hasn’t appeared in any big league postseason games.

After facing Gurriel on Tuesday, Morton struck out Chas McCormick on four pitches, then retired Martin Maldonado on a liner to first base.

“When the inning was over, we meet and talk about what’s going on,” d’Arnaud recalled. “He said, ‘Oh, that one got me good.’ He was kind of walking a little funny. I didn’t think it was broken.”

Braves manager Brian Snitker said an initial X-ray after the second failed to show a break.

“He wanted to keep going, because he was down in the tunnel and he was throwing against the wall,” Snitker explained. “He said, ‘It kind of hurts more when I run. I feel good when I throw.’ ”

Morton went back out for the third. Still reaching up to 95.9 mph, he struck out Altuve. The 37-year-old right-hander braced himself with both arms after the pitch and grimaced as he popped back up, then rubbed at his right ankle.

“To go out there and strike out the next guy with a broken leg, it blows my mind,” d’Arnaud said, repeating for emphasis. “It blows my mind.”

Head athletic trainer George Poulis and manager Snitker came to the mound, and Morton walked back to the dugout, favoring a leg. By the fifth inning, the Braves said Morton’s next mound appearance was expected to be during spring training.

“That’s Charlie,” Snitker said. “He wants to be on this stage. God bless him, I hate it for him. Really hate it for him. He’s such a great person, great person and teammate.”

ANNIE MULLIGAN/THE NEW YORK TIMES Starter Charlie Morton, right, is helped off the field during the Braves’ win in the World Series opener Tuesday. Morton broke his right leg.