Today's Three Things: Drake rakes, Ronald runs Braves to victory
The Atlanta Braves got huge contributions from their former MVP and (hopefully) a future Rookie of the Year
The Atlanta Braves opened their series against the San Francisco Giants in style, winning game one by the score of 9-5 in Truist Park on Monday night.
Here’s Today’s Three Things from the contest.
The Turning Point
Is the bottom of the first inning too early?
Already down 1-0 after Bryce Elder allowed a walk and a few singles in the top of the inning, Atlanta immediately got to work. Leadoff man Jurickson Profar drew a walk against young Giants starter Hayden Birdsong and the Braves didn’t let up. Two more walks, these to Matt Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr., loaded the bases for catcher Drake Baldwin.
The rookie, working from the designated hitter spot, doubled to empty the bases.
After another walk, this one coming to Ozzie Albies, and a Sean Murphy hit-by-pitch, Birdsong was mercifully lifted by the Giants. After reliever Matt Gage got strikeouts of Nacho Alvarez and Michael Harris II, shortstop Nick Allen cleared the bases again with a single to left. It closed the book on Birdsong, with the youngster being charged with five runs on one hit and four walks. He’s just the 33rd major league starter to face at least six hitters without recording an out since 2000.
Today’s Player of the Game
It’s gotta be Drake Baldwin for me.
The rookie finished 3-5, two of those hits being doubles, with two runs scored and six runs batted in. He was one RBI short of Atlanta’s single-game rookie record, set by Wes Helms in August of 2001.
Tonight’s performance by Baldwin was important beyond just the win - the rookie is locked in a tight battle with starter Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers for the National League Rookie of the Year award. We know from experience (Michael Harris’ win in 2022, Corbin Carroll’s win in 2023) that it takes an exceptional season for a pitcher (like Paul Skenes in 2024) to beat a position player. As of tonight:
Baldwin: .290/.358/.488 with 11 homers and 39 RBI1
Misiorowski: 4-1, 2.81 ERA in 5 starts with 33 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25.2 innings
What You’ll Be Talking About
Ronald Acuña Jr.
The Braves outfielder scored from first base twice in this game. The first one was mentioned above, on the 1st inning double by Drake Baldwin. Impressive but not particularly noteworthy - Sean Murphy did the same thing later on a base hit by Nick Allen.
But the other? It was absolutely absurd.
Ronald was on first base in the 4th after another walk and Baldwin drove him in again. But this came on a ground ball up the middle that was fielded cleanly by centerfielder Jung Ho Lee.
Ronald didn’t care. He never stopped running.
Check out the play and see how surprised that everyone is - the defense, the announcers, and even Baldwin himself:
I pulled the high home camera view to confirm that Ronald was running the entire time, blowing off a stop sign from third base coach Fredi Gonzalez. He was also six steps from third base when the defense got the ball.
SIX STEPS.
Just absurd.
Between Friday night’s amazing throw, Sunday’s long home run, and now this baserunning on Monday (he went home to first in 10.11 seconds, his fastest time of the season, hitting 29.8 ft/sec while doing it), it’s clear to see that he’s the most talented player that has ever played for the franchise.
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/loss.
What’s Next for the Braves?
The Braves are hoping to get an early win in the series tomorrow night. Davis Daniel (0-0, 1.80) takes on Giants righty Landen Roupp (6-6, 3.27) at 7:15 PM ET.
Baldwin’s batting average and slugging lead all qualified rookies in the National League