Ronald Acuna Jr. stole a base to help ignite a six-run first inning, setting a record in the process, as the Atlanta Braves cruised past the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 11-5 on Saturday.
When Acuna stole second after a leadoff single, he became the first player in major league history to collect at least 20 home runs and 50 steals before August.
The Braves’ opening deluge was capped when Eddie Rosario hit a two-run home run — the first of the team’s four homers in the game.
Acuna hit one, his 24th of the season, and Marcell Ozuna hit two: a solo shot off Milwaukee starter Julio Teheran in the fifth, and a two-run blast against Trevor Megill in the seventh inning. The second bomb extended Atlanta’s lead to 11-1. Ozuna has 21 home runs on the season.
Orlando Arcia joined Acuna and Ozuna with three hits, going 3-for-4, and five Braves overall had multiple hits. Ozzie Albies went 2-for-5 and Austin Riley 2-for-4.
Teheran (2-5) was tagged for nine runs in his five innings. Braves starter Bryce Elder (8-2) benefited from the offensive onslaught, although he did not need much. Elder gave up just one run in seven innings and struck out three.
Milwaukee showed some life in the eighth when the Brewers scored four runs. Reliever Taylor Hearn walked the first two batters, Victor Caratini and Brice Turang, then both advanced into scoring position from a wild pitch. Joey Wiemer singled home one run, and Williams Contreras launched a three-run homer.
Hearn recorded only one out and was charged with four earned runs.
The Braves scored in double digits for the second straight game, after defeating the Brewers 10-7 in the series opener on Friday.
–Field Level Media
