ATLANTA — One could make the argument that Ronald Acuña Jr. single-handedly delivered a 4-3 loss to the Phillies on Saturday night. He gave the Braves a 2-0 lead with a first-pitch home run off of Aaron Nola in the bottom of the third, and then tacked on two more runs with a two-RBI double in the bottom of the fourth. But the wreckage didn’t end there.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out and Bryson Stott on third base, Acuña fielded a sac fly from right field and fired a laser home that clocked in at 105 mph. Stott narrowly avoided a tag.
A few at-bats later, Bryce Harper stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. The reigning NL MVP hit a line drive to right field, which seemed like it would score at least a run or two, but, instead, scored none as Acuña made a leaping grab to end the inning.
