Acuna hits 40th homer, putting him on the cusp of MLB history

ATLANTA — Ronald Acuna Jr. became the second-youngest player in baseball history to hit 40 homers in a season, Freddie Freeman also drove in two runs and the Atlanta Braves clinched at least a tie for first place in Major League Baseball’s National League East with a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

With eight games left in the regular season, a second straight division title seems a formality for the Braves.

They hold a 91⁄2-game lead over the Washington Nationals, who have played three fewer games and were off Thursday.

The Braves can officially celebrate as soon as Friday with either a victory over the San Francisco Giants or if Washington loses at Miami.

After winning the first two games of the series, Philadelphia’s post-season hopes took another blow. The Phillies came into the day trailing both Milwaukee and the Chicago Cubs by three games for the NL’s second wild-card spot.

Acuna’s historic homer came with a flourish. He launched a 432-foot drive into the second deck at SunTrust Park, standing at home plate to admire his shot off Aaron Nola before tossing the bat away and slowly rounding the bases.

Mel Ott, who was 20 when he hit 42 homers for the New York Giants in 1940, is the only player younger than Acuna to post a 40-homer season.

Eddie Mathews also was 21 but about two months older than Acuna when he hit 47 homers for the Milwaukee Braves in 1953.

Ott and Mathews are both members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Acuna is still three stolen bases shy of another milestone. He has 37 steals in his quest to become just the fifth 40-40 player in baseball history, following Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (’96), Alex Rodriguez (’98) and Alfonso Soriano (2006).

Trainer’s room

Phillies shortstop Jean Segura left the game in the sixth after appearing to injure his left hamstring while beating out an infield single.

Maikel Franco took over a pinch-runner and remained in the game at third base, with Kingery moving over to fill Segura’s spot at shortstop.

KEVIN C. COX GETTY IMAGES Ronald Acuna Jr. launches his 40th homer of the season against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park in Atlanta on Thursday.