WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two home runs, including a towering blast to lead off Wednesday night’s game against the Athletics, and the Atlanta Braves hit a season-high five homers in a 9-2 victory.
The Braves had lost 13 consecutive games in the state of California.
It was the 14th career multi-homer performance for Acuña, who opened the game with a shot to left field that went out of the Triple-A ballpark.
Acuña, who will compete in Monday’s Home Run Derby in his home stadium, added another solo homer in the fourth inning to right field on a pitch well outside the strike zone.
Drake Baldwin hit a three-run homer for the Braves, Austin Riley had a two-run shot and Marcell Ozuna added a solo home run — all off A’s starter Mitch Spence (2-5), who lasted six innings despite allowing nine hits and eight runs.
Braves right-hander Bryce Elder (3-6) gave up eight hits, allowed two earned runs and struck out seven batters in 6 2/3 innings for his first victory since May 4, a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had gone 0-5 with a 6.59 ERA over eight starts since then.
Key moment
Baldwin’s three-run, 431-foot homer to right-center field in the first inning gave the Braves a 4-0 lead.
Key stat
In addition to ending their long California skid, the Braves were 0-11 in the Golden State this year. Their last victory in the state until now was 3-1 over the Los Angeles Angels last Aug. 18. The Braves also dropped their two games in San Diego in last year’s NL Wild Card series.
Up next
The teams wrap up their three-game series on Thursday. Braves RHP Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA) is scheduled to face A’s LHP JP Sears (7-7. 4.76). The teams split the first two games.
__
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
