Tuesday's Braves Report (final edition): Acuna - my God, a 20-year-old (does it again); McCarthy to retire; bullpen; Newcomb; notes; minor league update; observations/notes
Acuna does it again, and more
First pitch of the game, Ronald Acuna went yard.
And again in the seventh.
The rookie sensation dazzled the small home crowd with a 3-for-5 night, and belted a leadoff homer for the third straight game in Atlanta’s 10-6 win over Miami.
Acuna drove in four runs and upped his average to .288.
Charlie Culberson, Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Johan Camargo, and Ender Inciarte also had two hits – a double and tripleas Atlanta won its fourth straight.
Acuna has a homer in five straight games, and 19 for the season. This was his first multiple-HR game in the majors.
Anibal Sanchez went five innings, leaving for a pinch-hitter. Jesse Biddle followed and got the win. The two struck out 10 batters in seven innings en route to a 13-K night for the staff, which walked only three but did give up 11 hits.
Atlanta has won 13 of its lat 17.
McCarthy to retire after season
Still buzzing about Acuna’s first-inning bombs, version 1
Still buzzing about Acuna’s first-inning bombs, version 2
Bullpen bolstering next month?
Minor-league update: Wright right
Next 5
Wednesday, 7:35 p.m., vs. Miami, FSSE
Thursday, 7:35 p.m., vs. Colorado, FSSE
Friday, 7:35 p.m., vs. Colorado, FSSO
Saturday, 7:10 p.m., vs. Colorado, FSSO
Sunday, 1:35 p.m., vs. Colorado, FSSO
From beat writers Gabe Burns/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mark Bowman/MLB.com, and David O’Brien/The Athletic on Twitter (and others when notable)
A win tonight would put the #Braves 16 games over .500 for the first time since they finished 96-66 in 2013 and won the NL East./DOB
McCarthy (right knee tendinitis) threw off the mound today. He is attempting to make adjustments that may allow him to be available as a reliever in September./MB
Sam Freeman was moved from Rome to Gwinnett continuing his rehab stint./GB
McCarthy and Moylan will throw live BP at Triple-A Gwinnett Saturday, then pitch in games for Gwinnett starting next week. Both likely to rehab until September roster expansion. Snitker said McCarthy will be used in bullpen in September, won’t be stretched out to start./MB
Braves are 7-3 in past 10 games and have OPS'd at .840 while leading the NL in runs (57), hits, doubles, homers (17) and slugging percentage during that stretch./DOB
Moylan is also aiming to be a part of Atlanta’s bullpen in September. He and McCarthy will spend the next couple weeks rehabbing with Gwinnett./MB
Updated
Acuna is the first player since Brady Anderson (4/18-21/99) to hit a leadoff homer in 3 straight games. He has also matched the Braves' franchise record by homering in 5 straight games./MB
Acuna joins Marquis Grissom (7 in 1996), Felipe Alou (5 in 1965, '66 and '67) and Claudell Washington (5 in 1984) as the only Braves to tally at least five leadoff homers in a season./MB