Braves rookie Acuna back in lineup, but fails to homer in loss to Rockies
ATLANTA — Rookie star Ronald Acuna Jr. was back in the lineup for the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, one day after being plunked in the left arm with a pitch that sparked a national debate about whether it’s ever acceptable to throw at a hitter intentionally.
Acuna said his elbow felt fine less than 24 hours after he took a 97 mph fastball from Miami’s Jose Urena .
Major League Baseball doled out a six-game suspension to the Marlins pitcher.
In the opener of an important four-game series against the Colorado Rockies, Acuna received a standing ovation from the crowd at SunTrust Park. He playfully patted umpire Pat Hoberg on his way to the plate and started the bottom of the first with a sharp single up the middle.
The 20-year-old phenom finished 1-for-4, snapping a streak of five straight games with a homer that tied a franchise record. In his final chance to set a mark all his own, Acuna lined out to right in the eighth. The Rockies rallied for three unearned runs in the ninth to beat the Braves 5-3, shaving Atlanta’s NL East lead to 1 12 ⁄ games over Philadelphia.
As a precaution, Acuna wore a red protective pad on his left arm.
“Obviously, it was kind of a hard hit,” Acuna said through a translator after taking an early session of batting practice at SunTrust Park . “But I’m not feeling any pain and I feel good right now.”
The Braves breathed a big sigh of relief, knowing what a significant injury would have meant to their post-season chances.
Acuna tried to stay in the game after being hit by Urena’s first pitch Wednesday, but he had to leave in the second inning. X-rays taken shortly afterward were negative, and the Braves also ordered a CT scan to make sure their prized rookie was OK. The scan came back normal, and Acuna was cleared to play.
Acuna has lived up to the hype since being called up by the Braves early in the season. In recent days, he’s been downright unstoppable with homers in five straight games — including leadoff shots in three straight games before he was struck by Urena’s pitch.
Royals 6, Blue Jays 2
KANSAS CITY — Lucas Duda homered, Rosell Herrera had three hits and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 after a long rain delay Thursday night to split their four-game series.
Royals relievers Brian Flynn, Kevin McCarthy, Brandon Maurer and Wily Peralta shut down the Blue Jays on three hits over the final five innings. Flynn (3-3) picked up the win with a scoreless inning.