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Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Atlanta's season is starting to slip away after another 7-game losing streak
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] One seven-game losing streak was manageable for Atlanta — a possible fluke at the start of the season. But now the Braves have dropped seven in a row again, and it's time to wonder if this will simply be a lost season for one of the game's star-studded teams. Sunday's 4-3 defeat at San Francisco dropped Atlanta to 10 games under .500 and 9 1/2 games behind the National League's final playoff spot. The Braves haven't missed the postseason since 2017 — and it's too early to count them out this year — but they can't afford to have much more go wrong. Atlanta started the season 0-7, then spent about six weeks clawing its way back to .500. All that work has already been undone after the Braves dropped another seven straight this past week. The last five of those defeats were by one run, including a ghastly collapse at home against Arizona on Thursday in which the Diamondbacks scored seven runs in the ninth to win 11-10. After that, Atlanta called up reliever Craig Kimbrel from the minors — the franchise saves leader returned to the Braves for the first time since they traded him before the 2015 season. He pitched once, then was designated for assignment. Atlanta overcame injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider to make the playoffs a year ago. Those two are back now, but while Acuña is hitting well, Strider has lost all five of his starts on the mound. The Braves are also one of only three teams in baseball with more blown saves (12) than saves (10). There are some reasons for Atlanta to keep hope alive. A big problem so far has been the team's 9-19 record in one-run games, which suggests the Braves don't need to improve much to turn things around. They actually have a positive run differential on the season. But the NL East may already be out of reach, with Atlanta trailing the first-place New York Mets by 14 games. Right now the Braves are in fourth, as close to last-place Miami as they are to third-place Washington. Trivia time Pete Alonso of the Mets needs 10 more homers to surpass Darryl Strawberry for the franchise's career lead. Only three active players currently hold the home run record for a major league franchise. Name the players, and the teams they hold the career lead in homers for. Line of the week Seattle's George Kirby struck out 14 and allowed just two hits in seven innings in a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. That snapped a five-game skid for the Mariners, who could use a more effective Kirby. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 6.53 ERA in four starts after missing the start of the season because of shoulder issues. Perhaps this performance was a sign that he's righting the ship. Comeback of the week This is obviously the Diamondbacks, who according to Baseball Savant faced a win probability of 0.1% after their leadoff hitter in the ninth struck out. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a solo homer, Alek Thomas added a two-run shot and Katel Marte produced an RBI single before the second out of the inning. Then Ildemaro Vargas hit an RBI single, and Eugenio Suárez's two-run double put Arizona ahead. Five other teams have come back to win after trailing by six this year, but none of those six-run deficits were later than the seventh inning. Trivia answer Mike Trout holds the Angels' record with 388 home runs. Giancarlo Stanton, now with the Yankees, is the Marlins' leader with 267. Manny Machado has the Padres' record of 177. (Evan Longoria holds the Rays' record with 261, but he hasn't played in the majors since 2023 and signed a one-day contract Saturday to retire with Tampa Bay.) ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Sub-.500 Braves remain optimistic thanks to Acuña's demonstration of power and good health in return
ATLANTA (AP) — The restored health of Ronald Acuña Jr. gives the Atlanta Braves reason for optimism despite again falling two games under .500 after losing two of three games to the San Diego Padres. Acuña played all three games against the Padres and immediately flashed his impressive all-around athleticism in his return after missing almost a full year following surgery on his left knee. In Friday night's 2-1 loss, the 2023 NL MVP hit the first pitch he saw 467 feet for a home run. The homer's exit velocity of 115.5 mph was the hardest hit ball by a Braves player this season. Acuña followed his dramatic first game back by hitting a 411-foot homer in Saturday's 7-1 win. He had a double and a walk in Sunday's 5-3 loss and was 4 for 12 in the three games. The homers were impressive, but perhaps most important to the Braves was the display of Acuña's all-around skills. He threw out Elias Díaz at second base on Friday night and added a 104.9 mph throw to the plate on Sunday just as Manny Machado slid safely. 'Absolutely insane. He's a beast,' Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies said. 'We all know he's got a cannon but that's impressive.' Acuña is making his second return from a major knee surgery. He tore his right ACL on July 10, 2021, and returned the following April. He was tentative at first in his 2022 comeback but looked far more confident against San Diego. He showed he could sprint to the right-field line to cut off hits before stopping quickly to make strong throws. Acuña confirmed he feels confident he's ready to flash his 2023 MVP skills. 'Yeah I think so,' Acuña said through translator Franco Garcia. 'To me that's just the culmination of all the work I put in throughout this whole time on my legs to be prepared for those moments, to be able to react and move the way I did in those moments and be confident in my legs and body.' The Braves are off on Monday. Manager Brian Snitker plans to play Acuña in each of their three games at Philadelphia in a series that begins on Tuesday night. 'It was awesome,' said Snitker when asked to describe Acuña's first three games. 'I think really good. His at-bats have been really good. Obviously the fielding, everything. I think he feels good. I think it's a good first series for him right there.' Snitker said Albies' two doubles on Sunday provide more reason a lineup also boosted by rookie catcher Drake Baldwin is ready for bigger things. 'I'm encouraged that we haven't played our best baseball yet and we're hanging right in there,' Snitker said. 'We have a lot of time for things to get really good. You know what, we're OK, really, where we're at. Everybody wants to be .500 and everything but there's so much baseball left.' Acuña's return was highly anticipated and helped the Braves draw sellout crowds in each game against San Diego, including 41,251 on Sunday. 'Incredible,' Acuña said of the support from the fans. 'Incredible to be back in front of the fans and even more incredible to be back home in front of them.' Albies said having Acuña as the leadoff hitter and right fielder is a good reason to expect better results for Atlanta. 'Oh, it's amazing,' said Albies of Acuña's impact. 'He brings a lot of energy to the lineup. We all see it. The fans love it. It's just great. When you see him going, the team goes with him. He gets something started when he's up there.' ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Ronald Acuña Jr. hits long homer on first pitch in his return to Braves after missing 1 year
ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. crushed his first pitch 467 feet for a home run in his dramatic return to the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Making his first appearance in almost one year, the 2023 NL MVP, was activated from the injured list and restored to the Braves' lineup almost one year after he tore his left ACL. Acuña, in his customary leadoff position in the lineup, turned on a fastball from San Diego right-hander Nick Pivetta' and sent the ball into the seats in left-center. Acuña hesitated briefly on his jog around the bases for a shuffle step. It was Atlanta's only offensive highlight in a 2-1 loss. Acuña said after the game 'I had a feeling' about hitting a homer in his return. When asked if he meant he had a feeling about a first-pitch homer, Acuña said: 'exactly how it happened. ... To me that's just the culmination of all the work I put in.' Infielder Orlando Arcia, a 2023 All-Star, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Acuña, who started in right field. Acuña said through translator Franco Garcia he was 'super excited, super happy' to make his return and added 'I couldn't sleep that much' after receiving the news of his return on Thursday. Braves manager Brian Snitker announced after Thursday night's 8-7 loss at Washington that Acuña would make his season debut on Friday night. Snitker said Friday it felt good to make out his first lineup of 2025 that included Acuña. 'He's one of those players that you better not go get a beer or whatever, because you might miss something really cool, you know?' Snitker said. 'I mean, he's that type of force, I think, in the game. I think he's going to energize everybody. Gonna energize the fans. Gonna energize his teammates.' 'Did you think he wasn't going to hit a homer on that first pitch?' Snitker said. Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP, hurt his left knee last May 26 and had surgery on June 6. The 27-year-old played six games in the minors on a rehab assignment, going 6 for 15 with two home runs. Acuña played in only 49 games last season, batting .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .716 OPS. This is Acuña's second comeback from a major knee injury. He tore his right ACL on July 10, 2021, and returned the following April. When asked Friday what is different about this rehabilitation process, he said 'Patience. The patience, for sure. ... I just think I'm in a much better place.' Atlanta entered 24-25 after an 0-7 start. 'It's huge,' third baseman Austin Riley said. 'The talent is there. The energy he brings, having Ronald up there at the top of the lineup. ... he can change a game at any point.' Acuña was a unanimous NL MVP in 2023 when he hit .336 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs and a league-leading 1.012 OPS. Acuña also stole 73 bases that year to become the only player with 40 homers and 70 steals in one season. Arcia, 30, was a 2023 NL All-Star when he hit .264 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs. Arcia lost his starting job due to an inability to compensate at the plate while suffering a defensive decline. He hit only .194 in 31 at-bats this season. Snitker said he hopes Arcia would ccept a minor league assignment if he does not land another job in the majors. 'I think we all know that it's a business,' Acuña said of Arcia getting cut. 'I'm happy to be back but I'm sorry that's the move.' Nick Allen has taken over as the starting shortstop. Snitker said Luke Williams is the backup shortstop and Eli White, a part-time starter in the outfield, will see more time in the infield.
Washington Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Machado homers in 9th as Padres overcome Acuña's dramatic return, beat Braves 2-1 to end 6-game skid
ATLANTA — Manny Machado hit a tiebreaking homer off Raisel Iglesias in the ninth inning and the San Diego Padres overcame Ronald Acuña Jr.'s home run in his season debut to beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Friday night and end their six-game losing streak. Machado led off the ninth by lining his fourth homer off Iglesias (3-4) to left field.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Machado homers in 9th as Padres overcome Acuña's dramatic return, beat Braves 2-1 to end 6-game skid
ATLANTA (AP) — Manny Machado hit a tiebreaking homer off Raisel Iglesias in the ninth inning and the San Diego Padres overcame Ronald Acuña Jr.'s home run in his season debut to beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Friday night and end their six-game losing streak. Machado led off the ninth by lining his fourth homer off Iglesias (3-4) to left field. Acuña wasted no time before thrilling the sellout crowd in his much-anticipated return to the Braves' lineup. He crushed the first pitch he saw 467 feet for a home run, turning on a fastball from Nick Pivetta for the shot into the seats in left-center in the first inning. He added a single in his next at-bat. Acuña also enjoyed a defensive highlight, throwing out Elias Díaz at second base in the eighth following Díaz's single. Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP, was activated from the injured list almost one year after he tore his left ACL. Braves starter Chris Sale allowed a second-inning homer to Gavin Sheets. Jason Adam (5-0) recorded the final out in the eighth. Robert Suarez overcame Alex Verdugo's leadoff single in the ninth for his 16th save. Eli White, running for Verdugo, was thrown out trying to return to second base following Ozzie Albie's single to center. White apparently thought Jackson Merrill caught the ball in center field. Key moment Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled to lead off the sixth and was on third base with one out when Manny Machado hit a grounder to third baseman Austin Riley. Tatis was thrown out at the plate by Riley, preserving a 1-1 tie. Key stat The homer by Acuña had an exit velocity of 115.5 mph. It was the hardest hit ball by a Braves player this season. Up next Atlanta's Grant Holmes (2-3, 4.01 ERA) will face San Diego's Michael King (4-2, 2.59) in a matchup of right-handers as the series continues on Saturday. ___ AP MLB: Charles Odum, The Associated Press
