Published on September 28, 2023
Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves made history on Wednesday, further solidifying his reputation as one of baseball’s brightest stars, and in doing so, helped the Braves clinch home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs.
In the thrilling contest against the visiting Chicago Cubs, Acuna showcased his remarkable skills in the bottom of the 10th inning. With one out on the scoreboard, Acuna stepped up to the plate and delivered a crucial single that brought home the tying run. Not content with that, he then executed a daring steal of second base, displaying his exceptional speed and agility. Acuna’s heroics did not stop there; he would go on to score the winning run on Ozzie Albies’ single. The Braves triumphed with a final score of 6-5, securing their place in the postseason and providing their fans with a night to remember.
What makes this performance even more extraordinary is that it solidified Acuna’s place in the annals of baseball history. With his 70th stolen base of the season, he became the first player ever in Major League Baseball to achieve the remarkable feat of 70 stolen bases and 40 home runs in a single season. Acuna finished the game going 2-for-5, adding to his already impressive record with his 69th and 70th steals. Additionally, he has notched an impressive 41 home runs during the year.
The Braves now need just one more victory to guarantee home-field advantage not only for the National League playoffs but also throughout the World Series. On the flip side, the Chicago Cubs find themselves trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by two games in the race for the second National League wild-card spot. This situation was exacerbated as the Diamondbacks secured a 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on the same day.
In other noteworthy games from Wednesday:
Astros 8, Mariners 3: The Houston Astros bolstered their postseason hopes with an 8-3 win against the Seattle Mariners. Yordan Alvarez, Mauricio Dubon, and Martin Maldonado each contributed home runs to secure the victory. This win allowed the Astros to move 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners in the race for the American League’s third and final wild-card playoff berth.
Yankees 6, Blue Jays 0: Aaron Judge’s two two-run home runs and Gerrit Cole’s impeccable pitching led the New York Yankees to a 6-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Cole, with his 15-4 record, further solidified his status as a top contender for the American League Cy Young Award.
Diamondbacks 3, White Sox 0: In a game where they were outhit 8-4, the Arizona Diamondbacks secured a 3-0 shutout win against the Chicago White Sox. Corbin Carroll’s two-run double and Brandon Pfaadt’s 5 2/3 shutout innings powered the Diamondbacks, who now hold a two-game lead in the race for the second National League wild-card spot.
Orioles 5, Nationals 1: The Baltimore Orioles edged closer to clinching the American League East with a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals. Adley Rutschman’s home run and strong pitching from Grayson Rodriguez put the Orioles in prime position. The win means that Baltimore is just one victory away from securing the division and the top seed in the AL playoffs.
Brewers 3, Cardinals 2: Milwaukee rallied to end their three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Tyrone Taylor’s go-ahead double in the seventh inning was the decisive play of the game.
Mets Split Doubleheader with Marlins: In a doubleheader, the New York Mets showcased their prowess with a resounding 11-2 win in the first game but fell short in the second game, losing 4-2 to the Miami Marlins. Pete Alonso had a standout performance in the first game, recording four hits, including a two-run homer.
Twins 6, Athletics 4: The Minnesota Twins earned a come-from-behind victory over the Oakland Athletics, with Trevor Larnach driving in the go-ahead run with a pinch-hit double.
Rangers 5, Angels 0: The Texas Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-0, thanks to Dane Dunning’s seven sharp innings on the mound.
Rays 5, Red Sox 0: Tampa Bay completed a two-game series sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 5-0 victory. Tyler Glasnow shone with nine strikeouts in five shutout innings.
Phillies 7, Pirates 6: The Philadelphia Phillies secured their seventh consecutive win with a narrow 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Garrett Stubbs and Bryce Harper both made significant contributions.
Tigers vs. Royals Suspended: Rain intervened in the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals, forcing its suspension after four innings. The Tigers held a 4-0 lead, and the contest is set to resume on Thursday.
Guardians 4, Reds 3: The Cleveland Guardians triumphed over the Cincinnati Reds with a 4-3 win, buoyed by Shane Bieber’s strong performance on the mound.
Dodgers 8, Rockies 2: The Los Angeles Dodgers secured an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. James Outman, Freddie Freeman, and Miguel Rojas were among the standout performers.
Padres 5, Giants 2 (10 innings): In a thrilling extra-inning contest, the San Diego Padres emerged victorious with a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. Manny Machado delivered the decisive blow with a two-RBI single in the 10th inning.
