Today's Three Things: Braves take down Yankees in Ronald Acuña Jr. showcase
The Atlanta Braves saw their MVP right fielder deliver in every possible facet
The Atlanta Braves started the ‘second half’ of the season in style, taking down the New York Yankees 7-3 in Truist Park on Friday night.
Here’s Today’s Three Things from the contest.
The Turning Point
The bottom of the third inning.
Just moments after a big double play killed some Yankees momentum (more on that in a minute), Atlanta deployed their new-look lineup to maximum effect. Cleanup hitter Drake Baldwin, starting behind the plate, lined a leadoff single to right field. Designated hitter Sean Murphy followed that with a double to left, putting tow in scoring position for embattled second baseman Ozzie Albies.
Turns out, it didn’t matter which bases they were on.
Ozzie squeezed an 0-1 changeup inside the right field foul pole for a three-run homer, his second longball of the last five games, to push Atlanta’s lead to 6-0.
It’s another tally in the recent resurgence of Albies, whose last home run prior to this stretch came on May 29th in Philadelphia. But in the last seven games, three of his five hits are for extra bases and he’s driven in five. Getting either Albies or Michael Harris II right (or preferably, both) down the stretch would go a long way towards answering questions about Atlanta’s offseason needs and the offense next year.
Today’s Player of the Game
Wthout a doubt, it’s Ronald Acuña Jr.
The 2023 Most Valuable Player in the National League showcased all of his possible contributions tonight.
In the top of the third, with two out and Aaron Judge on deck, he turned a completely unexpected double play on a flyball out to the far right field corner thanks to his bazooka of an arm.
Everything about this is just sublime. Ronald catching this ball facing away from third, pivoting, and making a flat-footed throw with perfect accuracy. Nacho Alvarez, probably never in a million years expecting a throw to beat the runner, not giving anything away or alerting Jorbit Vivas by setting up early to receive the throw. The Yankees in the dugout not only staring with jaws open, amazed, but not even challenging the play.
That may genuinely be one of, if not the best outfield assists of Ronald’s career.
*Billy Mays voice* BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE.
Ronald then picked up his first triple of the season in dominant fashion in the 4th inning.
With two outs and new reliever Scott Efross having just checked into the game, Ronald laced an 0-1 sweeper into the left-center gap and hit the jets.
Per MLB’s research tool, which I am absolutely loving having access to, Ronald’s 11.55 second home-to-third time was a 99th percentile mark this season. He hit 29.2 ft/sec on the run, as well, a top 30 mark in baseball were it his average speed and tied for his fifth-fastest sprint speed of the season.
To paraphrase Toby Keith, Ronald may not be as fast as he once was, but he can be as fast once as he ever was.
What You’ll Be Talking About (outside of Ronald)
Let’s talk about tonight’s pitching.
Spencer Strider continued his quiet dominance after a rough start to his season. Expectation were somewhat low after he flashed a 5.40 ERA and sub-95 mph fastball velocities in his first five starts.
But since then, he’s been dominant. Strider allowed just three hits and three walks in a scoreless six inning effort with eight strikeouts tonight, lowering his season ERA to 3.59. And he’s more than overcome his rough start - in his last seven starts, he’s 4-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
He wasn’t the only pitcher that performed for the Braves tonight. Outside of some 7th inning stumbles for Aaron Bummer, Atlanta’s pen delivered 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball with two hits and one walk allowed, striking out four and locking down a win.
Dylan Lee, who came in for Bummer and got a massive inning-ending strikeout of Aaron Judge with two on in a 7-3 game, was clutch in shutting down an opportunity for the Yankees to make this one close again. After Pierce Johnson pitched a scoreless eighth, Raisel Iglesias continued his scoreless streak with a lockdown ninth inning on just twelve pitches.
In his last fifteen games, Iglesias has allowed just six hits and one walk, striking out 18 and allowing no runs. He’s been even more dominant recently, with his last seven games seeing just two opposing baserunners (one hit, one walk) opposite ten strikeouts.
If the Braves do go forward with the plan to sell at the deadline, he might fetch a legitimate return, which was somewhat unthinkable even two months ago.
Looking for more discussion about this game?
Here’s tonight’s Postcast, with me and Locked On Braves host Jake Mastroianni, as we went live to break down the win.
What’s Next for the Braves?
The Braves are back in action tomorrow night, with lefty Joey Wentz (2-1, 6.32) on the mound opposite righty Will Warren (6-5, 4.63). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM ET from Truist Park.