Acuna hits 464-foot homer in Braves’ 5-2 win over Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — Ronald Acuña Jr. stole a base when nobody was trying, hit a homer to the followers shopping for beer.

Spencer Strider overpowered main league hitters by blowing fastballs previous them.

When the Atlanta Braves’ two younger stars are within the lineup, it’s can’t-miss viewing.

Acuña hit a 464-foot residence run, Strider struck out seven in six efficient innings and the Braves beat the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 on Saturday evening.

“You feel like every day – Spencer it’s every five days – you can’t ask for a better seat in the house watching that every day,” mentioned Braves reliever Jesse Sanchez, who labored out of an enormous jam within the sixth inning.

Scuffling on the plate currently, the Braves had 11 hits to finish Arizona’s six-game successful streak.

PHOTOS: Acuña hits 464-foot homer in Braves’ 5-2 win over Diamondbacks

Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario had run-scoring singles in opposition to Rhyne Nelson (2-4) to assist the Braves go up 3-0 via 5 innings. Atlanta scored one other run on a double play within the sixth inning and Acuña adopted by hitting his twelfth homer onto the concourse behind the seats in left-center.

“You better not go get a beer or anything when he’s coming up because you might miss something really good,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “That’s amazing to me, how ball comes off (his bat).”

Strider (6-2) allowed two runs and three hits with 4 walks. Raisel Iglesias labored round a single within the ninth for for his sixth save in seven possibilities.

Chavez escaped an enormous jam after Strider left, permitting a run on hit by pitch after Arizona loaded the bases with one out within the sixth inning. He struck out Pavin Smith and Ketel Marte seeking to finish the inning.

Evan Longoria hit a solo homer for Arizona, which was held to 6 hits.

“We were a slug away from getting right back in this game,” Diamondbacks supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned. ”We simply couldn’t get in synch offensively.”

Strider moved into Atlanta’s rotation a yr in the past within the desert and has dominated since.

The flame-throwing right-hander returned to the desert main the majors in strikeouts (106) and hit 100 strikeouts sooner than any pitcher since 1863, eclipsing the mark in 61 innings.

Strider was overpowering at occasions in opposition to the Diamondbacks, although labored via visitors in each inning. He managed to work out of it till Longoria left no wiggle room with a towering homer to left main off the fifth inning.

Strider was changed by Chavez after giving up a leadoff single to Emmanuel Rivera within the seventh.

“A lot of octane in that fastball and he commands it,” Lovullo mentioned. “He was very sharp on each edge of the plate.”

Nelson allowed three runs and 6 hits with 4 walks and no strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

“He had some easy innings where it was moving in the right direction, but had he finished off some hitters and not let the at-bat linger, we could have pushed him a little further,” Lovullo mentioned.

Speedy Acuna

The Diamondbacks forgot about certainly one of baseball’s greatest base stealers within the third inning.

After hitting a double within the third inning, Acuña observed Arizona third baseman Josh Rojas enjoying effectively off the bag. Acuña took off earlier than Nelson had even taken an indication, simply beating Rojas to the bag for his twenty fourth steal.

“He’s got a good feel from when they’ve got their head down, that’s for sure,” Snitker mentioned. “Third basemen are playing so close to second these days it almost becomes a foot race between him and the third baseman. He’s going go win that one.”

Scoring change

Carroll’s walk-off hit in Thursday’s recreation in opposition to Colorado has been modified from a single to a double. The two-out double within the 6-5 win was the primary walk-off hit of Carroll’s profession.

Trainer’s desk

Braves: LHPs Max Fried and Dylan Lee have began throwing as they work towards returning. Fried has been out since May 6 with forearm tightness. Lee has been sidelined since May 19 with shoulder irritation.

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