ATLANTA — In the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday night, Braves baserunner Ronald Acuña Jr. stared down Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel from third base. Ginkel stared back. Acuña danced halfway down the line, daring the pitcher to try to pick him off. Ginkel stepped off the mound and walked to Acuña, forcing him to retreat. Fans peppered the pitcher with boos.
Acuña scored moments later on a wild pitch. It didn’t matter. The Braves trailed by three at that point, two after Acuña scored, and lost 5-3 in front of a sellout crowd at Truist Park.
It was the Braves’ fourth straight loss and fifth in their last six games.
