ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves bounced back from a season-opening loss, and Charlie Morton bounced back from the injury that shortened his World Series experience last fall.
Not that it was on his mind Friday night.
The 38-year-old right-hander allowed only two hits while pitching into the sixth inning in his return from a broken leg, Travis d'Arnaud drove in three runs and the Braves held off the Cincinnati Reds to win 7-6.
A day after Atlanta's opener, preceded by a celebration of the franchise's first World Series championship since 1995, was spoiled by the visiting Reds' 6-3 victory, Morton was in top form in his season debut. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and allowed two runs with five strikeouts with one walk in 5 1/3 innings.
In Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros on Oct. 26, Morton's right leg was broken after he was hit by a comebacker. He exited in the third inning that night, and the short-handed Braves went on to win the series in six games.
"I honestly didn't even think about the leg," Morton said after Friday's victory.
Asked to hold a 7-3 lead, new closer Kenley Jansen gave up three ninth-inning runs in his Atlanta debut.
Jansen, the former Los Angeles Dodgers star who signed a one-year contract with the Braves last month, walked Joey Votto and gave up a single to Tyler Stephenson to open the inning. With two outs, Kyle Farmer hit an RBI single and Jake Fraley had a two-run single before Jansen retired Jonathan India on a fly ball.
"He's a big horse that just never stops pitching," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Jansen's ability to escape the trouble in his 30-pitch inning.
"I've seen him get in those jams before, playing against him. These relievers, it was a limited spring for them, too. They really haven't gotten the work that they normally would in a regular year with an extended spring training. I'm glad we won the game. It wasn't all that bad for him to go out there and throw that many pitches, really."
D'Arnaud had two hits, including a two-run single in Atlanta's five-run third inning, and new first baseman Matt Olson had three hits.
The Braves took advantage of seven walks by Cincinnati pitchers.
Reds rookie Reiver Sanmartin (0-1) lasted only 2 1/3 innings, and his five walks led to his early exit. Sanmartin allowed five runs on four hits, including a run-scoring double by Adam Duvall in Atlanta's big third.
Jeff Hoffman, who replaced Sanmartin, allowed d'Arnaud's two-run single and a run-scoring single by Orlando Arcia.
Morton threw four perfect innings before Votto led off the fifth with a single up the middle. Nick Senzel doubled and Mike Moustakas had a sacrifice fly.
"He's a guy that's been around, most of our hitters have faced him, and he just seems to continue to do what he does and get people out," Reds manager David Bell said. "He's got great stuff, he has the experience. He made it tough on us through the first five innings."
The Braves continued their title celebration by raising a World Series banner in center field before the game. World Series rings will be presented to coaches and players before Saturday night's game.