Six-run seventh powers Atlanta to Game1 victory
Atlanta struck a mighty first blow. Others were even mightier.
Ronald Acuna Jr., who led off the Braves’ first inning with a home run and in his nex tat-bat was plunked by a pitch that delayed play, was at the forefront of Atlanta’ s victory over Miami at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday.
But itwas Travis d’Arnaud’s threeshot in the seventh that broke a tie, lifting the Braves to a 9-5 come-from behind win in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
“We’re pretty dangerous,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose team needs two more wins to advance to its firs tN L Championship Series since 2001. “Anytime you get down, you kind of want to keep pushing. And these guys never stopped. They never let their foot off the gas.”
Part of a six-runs eventh, d’Arnaud’ s home run off Yimi Garcia was followed two batters later by Dansby Swanson’s two-run shot off James Hoyt.
A decisive underdog in the bestof-five series, the Marlins dug themselves into a hole despite getting six strong innings from starter Sandy Alcan tara.
Perhaps annoyed by Acuna’s bat flip after his 428-foot homerun in the first, the righthander struck him with a 97 mph fastball near the left hip in the third.
After being hit, Acuna walked around home plate and took a few steps toward the mound. But nothing came from it, even though both dugouts came out to the top steps and both teams were warned by the umpire.
“I just tried to go inside, and I hit him,” said Alcantara, who said he would be ready to pitch if a Game 5 is necessary. “If he’s ready to fight, I’m ready to fight.”
Snitker said he didn’t think the pitch was intentional.
“I watched the replay,” Snitker said. “He didn’t just throw the ball at him. He tried to go in.” Acuna is used to getting hit, especially against the Marlins, whom the Braves beat six times in 10 regular season meetings.
“We’ve been in this situation before where I’ve taken exception to being hit by a pitch,” he said. “We’ve grown accustomed to it. We’re tired of it, but I feel there’s nothing we can do. Our focus remains on winning and moving forward.”
Before d’Arnaud’s three-run homer to center, the Braves tied the game at 4 on Marcell Ozuna’s oneout single off Garcia to start the seventh-inning scoring.
Atlanta collected 12 hits, with d’Arnaud picking up three and adding four RBIs. Acuna and Ozuna had two runs and two hits each. Austin Riley added two Shits. second baseman Ozzie Albies went 1-for-4 with a run and made three sparkling plays in the field.
Atlanta starter Max Fried left after four innings and 70 pitches with his team behind 4-3. The lefthander, who posted a 2.25 regular-season ERA, allowed four runs and six innings.
But with Fried struggling, five Braves relievers combined to allow only one run and one hit. Left hander WillSmith, who pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, got the win.
“These guys aren’ t match up guys; they’re clean-inning guys,” Snitker said. “We’re not worried about them.”