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(Sports Network) - Despite losing baseball's top hitter to a freak accident prior to the game, the Atlanta Braves began their three-game interleague set against the LA Angels of Anaheim last night with a victory and will now shoot for back-to-back wins for just the second time this month when the clubs collide again tonight at Angel Stadium.

Gregor Blanco recorded three hits and three RBI for the Braves as they posted the 5-2 road win. Jeff Francoeur and Brandon Jones both had a pair of hits and scored twice, while Jo-Jo Reyes made it through eight innings to earn his fourth victory of the season.

Reyes allowed just two runs on five hits and a pair of walks, striking out five and leaving the successful save opportunity to Jeff Bennett who permitted a pair of hits in a scoreless ninth.

Anaheim starter Jon Garland was pelted with 12 hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings, even with Atlanta's Chipper Jones and his lofty .414 batting average out of the lineup.

Howie Kendrick picked up two hits and a run batted in for the Angels, with Torii Hunter connecting on a solo home run to account for the team's other run. Back in the lineup after coming off the 15-day DL, Chone Figgins had a hit and a pair of walks, but was also caught stealing along the way.

Although he wanted to play last night for the Braves in the series opener, Jones was told to take the night off by the doctors after suffering a left eye contusion during batting practice. Jones, who had a batted ball bounce back into his face in the cage, should be back in the lineup tonight according to manager Bobby Cox.

One of the moves the Braves made off the field a few days ago was calling up Charlie Morton from Triple-A Richmond, which means the New Jersey native is in line for the start tonight against the Angels.

Morton has produced a 5-2 record in the minors thus far in 2008, showing an ERA of just 2.05. Over the course of 79 innings the right-hander has allowed just 51 hits and struck out 72 and has yet to surrender a single home run.

As for LA, it will be leaning on Ervin Santana and his 8-2 mark so far this season. Santana, who is facing the Braves for the very first time in his career, is 2-0 in his last three starts after losing back-to-back outings versus the Dodgers and Toronto last month.

The right-hander's most recent outing took place on Sunday when he made it through 6 1/3 innings against Oakland, permitting just two runs on seven hits and a trio of walks, while fanning nine to match a season best.

Despite sporting the top hitter in the majors at the moment, Atlanta has hit just .254 over the last week, partly because Jones is down at .273 during that span. Trying to shoulder some of the weight it Francoeur who has nine hits in 23 at-bats and has scored five of the team's 19 runs in the last six games. As far as the entire season is concerned, the Braves are second in the NL in hitting at a .275 clip.

As for the Angels, Vladimir Guerrero appears to have found his strong in recent days with his three home runs and six RBI in six games. Guerrero has a total of nine hits in his last 22 at-bats and has scored six times. Maicer Izturis has also crossed the plate six times for the club, thanks to nine hits. Hunter may have two home runs in the last six games, but he has just three RBI and his hitting a mere .208.

In the only previous series between the Angels and Braves, Anaheim won two of three clashes at Turner Field from June 6-8, 2005.