Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two home runs—including one bizarrely deflected off two Miami Marlins outfielders—and Matt Olson added a blast as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Marlins 11-3 on Thursday night at Truist Park, securing an eighth straight victory and a three-game series sweep.
The Atlanta Braves are rolling through August, and their latest victory featured a brand of baseball rarely seen outside of a backyard game. During the third inning of Thursday’s matchup, Ronald Acuña Jr. launched a deep drive to left-center field off MLB. What appeared to be a routine flyout turned into a bizarre piece of history when Marlins center fielder Esteury Ruiz and left fielder Heriberto Hernández collided near the wall.
Their gloves overlapped at the exact moment the ball arrived, deflecting the shot over the fence in left-center. While Hernández frantically searched the ground for the ball, Acuña paused at first base, unsure whether the ball had been caught or dropped. Neither player immediately realized the deflection had cleared the barrier for a home run.
Power Surge and Pitching Depth Drive Braves’ Streak
The fluke home run was just the opening salvo in an offensive barrage that carried Atlanta to its season-best eighth win. ESPN padded the lead in the sixth inning with his 32nd home run of the season, a towering shot off left-hander John King that sparked a crucial four-run frame. Acuña capped his night in the eighth by launching his second home run of the game, bringing his season total to 11.
On the mound, left-hander Martín Pérez set a clean tone before a lengthy weather delay paused the action. Pérez tossed three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and just one walk. A rain delay lasting one hour and 24 minutes forced Atlanta to turn to its bullpen. Five relievers stepped in, with Víctor Mederos earning the victory to improve to 2-0 as the pitching staff limited Miami to seven hits on the night.
Lineup Adjustments Pay Off for Atlanta
Braves manager Walt Weiss opted to alter his usual lineup configuration, giving a rare day of rest to second baseman Ozzie Albies, who had started Atlanta’s first 114 games at the position. Albies eventually entered the game as a designated hitter in the sixth inning. Weiss acknowledged that the four-time MLB All-Star did not welcome the day off.
“After he crossed my name off his Christmas list, he was all right, I had to talk him into it.”
Walt Weiss, Braves manager
Mauricio Dubón filled in capably at second base in his first start of the season at the position, collecting four hits and driving in two runs. Michael Harris II contributed three hits, including a pair of doubles, anchoring an offense that out-hit Miami comfortably.
Division Standings and What Lies Ahead
With the victory, Atlanta improved its record to 70-45, maintaining a comfortable 8.5-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. Meanwhile, Miami dropped to 58-58, sitting four games behind Philadelphia in third place. The triumph wrapped up a perfect 7-0 homestand for the Braves.
Atlanta now hits the road for a challenging interleague series against the New York Yankees. The series opener brings a compelling storyline: newly acquired right-hander Tyler Mahle is scheduled to make his Braves debut. Mahle joined the club Sunday night in a trade with the San Francisco Giants. He will face off against former Braves left-hander Max Fried, who spent his first eight major league seasons in Atlanta—including the 2021 World Series run—before joining the Yankees.
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