Kids are all right: Acuna, Albies star

CINCINNATI — The Braves’ youth movement is going long.

Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies, the two youngest players in the major leagues, homered and combined for five RBIs Thursday in a 7-4 victory over the Reds that gave the Braves a split of the four-game series.

Acuna became the youngest player in the majors Wednesday at 20 years, 128 days, then went 1-for-5 in his debut. He led off the second inning Thursday with a home run five rows deep into the left-field upper deck against Homer Bailey, singled in the sixth and delivered a tiebreaking double off Wandy Peralta (1-1) in the eighth after Freddie Freeman’s third double of the game.

“It’s truly a unique moment,” Acuna said through an interpreter. “Your first home run in the big leagues is a once-in-alifetime moment.”

Acuna became the youngest Braves player to homer since Andruw Jones in 1997 when he was 20 years, 122 days.

Albies, a 21-year-old who made his debut in August, hit a two-run homer in the fifth for a 4-0 lead and added an RBI double in the ninth.

“It’s fun to watch,” manager Snitker said. “It’s cool to be around these young guys and the energy they bring.”

Snitker was as impressed by Acuna’s speed as his power.

“He makes the club more athletic,” Snitker said. “Batting, fielding, running the bases — he makes the club better.”

Every Braves starter except catcher Kurt Suzuki had at least one hit, including pitcher Sean Newcomb, who gave up four runs, five hits and three walks in six innings.

The Reds’ Joey Votto hit a three-run homer. Votto has homered in three straight games for the sixth time in his career.