The Braves’ nine-game winning streak appeared in jeopardy Saturday, but it turns out everything is just going their way these days. They erupted for an eight-run seventh that propelled them to a 10-4 victory over the Pirates at Truist Park.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
1. The Braves entered the seventh inning with a 4-2 deficit. They scored eight times to secure their third win in as many nights over the lowly Pirates.
Marcell Ozuna opened the inning with a double. William Contreras walked. Adam Duvall hit into what was initially ruled a double play but overturned as a fielder’s choice. Michael Harris singled home the first run to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Pirates summoned right-hander Chris Stratton, whom the Braves obliterated. Stratton hit Ronald Acuna with a two-strike pitch to load the bases. Dansby Swanson popped a ball into right field that just avoided going foul (194 feet). It scored three baserunners, including Acuna from first base.
“Any time I’m on the bases, I just try to anticipate the play that’s going to happen,” Acuna said via team interpreter Franco Garcia. “I have in my mind if it goes to certain spots, I’ll be able to score from there. I anticipated that being one of the scenarios, so it was in my mind I could score from there.”
Austin Riley then singled and advanced on a wild pitch, which led to Pittsburgh intentionally walking Matt Olson. Ozzie Albies cranked a grand slam to complete the Braves’ mammoth inning.
2. Aside from flying around the bases to score in the seventh, Acuna also homered in the first inning. In the dugout, Acuna teamed with Guillermo Heredia to copy NBA star LeBron James’ chalk toss celebration.
It was the second time Acuna had paid homage to James, who again acknowledged the Braves’ All-Star on Twitter, quote tweeting the video of Acuna’s celebration and saying “Man I love this kid!”
“It brings a lot of emotions to me to have a superstar, a living legend of that caliber reach out and be supportive,” Acuna said. “It really makes me proud.”
Acuna added that the ACL tear that ended his 2021 season last July helped him gain perspective of the excitement he brings to the game. In 31 games since his return, Acuna has hit .316/.411/.538 with six doubles, eight homers, 16 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
“I’ve changed completely, mentally and physically, since the injury,” Acuna said. “And I do feel grateful for the injury in that sense because it’s given me the opportunity to adjust and change and have that appreciation for (what I do on the field).”
3. Albies hit his fifth career grand slam and first since 2019. After going 40 games (161 at-bats) without a home run from April 24 to June 7, Albies has two homers in his last four games. He’s matched his RBI total in each of April and May (11) through 10 games in June.
“It’s good because he had a little drought there,” manager Brian Snitker said. “Really good at-bat there. He got a pitch and he didn’t miss it. That’s the key. Maybe that’s something that gets him going a little bit.”
4. Charlie Morton had an odd afternoon in his first career appearance against the Pirates, one of his former clubs. He surrendered two home runs in the first inning. He settled down before allowing another pair of runs in the fifth. He finished the outing with a clean sixth. Morton, despite the uninspiring bottom line of four runs on six hits, struck out a season-best 12 hitters.
He generated a healthy number of swings and misses. He induced 23 whiffs on 46 swings (50%). The Pirates whiffed on his curveball in seven of their 11 swings (64%). Morton’s stuff producing such lofty strikeout numbers, along with his ability to complete six innings, is encouraging for a veteran trying to get his season on the right track.
5. The Braves’ 10-game winning streak is their longest since 2013. They had two double-digit streaks that season with winning runs of 14 and 10 games. Their current streak was already the longest in the National League this season and now sits one victory shy of equaling the longest runs in the majors this season. They’ve outscored opponents 69-27 over the last 10 contests.
Once 10-1/2 games back in the NL East, the Braves have gained four games on the Mets during their streak and sit 6-1/2 games back. New York was set to play the Angels in Anaheim late Saturday night. The Phillies, meanwhile, have won nine consecutive games. The NL race should be interesting throughout the summer.
Stat to know
8 (The Braves’ eight-run seventh was their highest output in any individual frame this season. It was the first time they’d scored eight runs in an inning since doing so against the Pirates on May 21, 2021.)
Quotable
“I don’t know that I’ve seen anybody (so exciting) in my time. I’ve seen a bunch of Hall of Famers that are great players and some who aren’t Hall of Famers that are knocking at the door where you go, ‘wow.’ But this kid, he’s almost even on a different level. The tool thing is crazy. … He’s the total package. Probably as good, in my time, as I’ve seen.” – Snitker on Acuna
Up next
The Braves and Pirates finish their series Sunday. Kyle Wright (6-3, 2.39) will face veteran lefty Jose Quintana (1-3, 3.19).
