Braves blast way to win in Game 1

ATLANTA 9, MIAMI 5

HOUSTON — Ronald Acuna Jr. made history with a leadoff home run to start things off for the Atlanta Braves in their National League Division Series opener against the Miami Marlins.

And another hit — Marlins pitcher’s Sandy Alcantara’s thirdinning fastball to the hip of Acuna — fired up the Braves and fueled their rally in a 9- 5 victory Tuesday.

“I think it woke us up,” said Travis d’Arnaud, who launched a tiebreaking homer during Atlanta’s six- run seventh inning. “And we took advantage of that momentum.”

D’Arnaud also doubled and singled in driving in four and Dansby Swanson homered during the big rally to help power the Braves.

After shutting out Cincinnati for 22 innings during a two- game sweep in the wild- card round, the Braves relied on their bats in this opener. Game 2 of the best- of- f ive series is Wednesday.

Acuna got things going for the Braves in the bottom of the f irst when he sent Alcantara’s second pitch into right- center f ield for a homer. He watched it for a second before f lipping his bat and rounding the bases as he became the youngest player ( 22 years 293 days) in postseason history with a leadoff home run.

Things turned testy in the third when Acuna was nailed by a 98mph fastball. The showy All- Star outfielder held on to his bat and walked a few steps toward the mound before umpires and Braves coaches surrounded him and directed him away from Alcantara.

Acuna and his teammates got revenge. The Braves trailed 4- 3 in the seventh before Austin Riley and Acuna singled with no outs to chase Alcantara. Yimi Garcia came in for the Marlins, and Freddie Freeman grounded into a forceout that left runners at the corners. Marcell Ozuna lined a single to left that made it 4- 4.

Then D’Arnaud, who is in his f irst season with Atlanta, belted a slider over the fence in center for a three- run drive that made it 7- 4. Swanson added a two- run homer later in the inning.

Garrett Cooper hit a two- run double for the Marlins, who swept the Chicago Cubs in the wild- card round.

Eric Gay Associated Press THE BRAVES’ Ronald Acuna Jr., who homered leading off the bottom of the f irst, reacts after scoring during the third inning.