Acuña Jr. Homers Twice as Braves Sweep Marlins 11-3 for Eighth Straight Win

Ronald Acuña Jr. recorded his second multihomer game of the season as Atlanta secured an 11-3 victory over Miami.

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 11-3 on Thursday night, securing a three-game series sweep and extending their season-high winning streak to eight games. Ronald Acuña Jr. headlined the offensive performance with two home runs, while Matt Olson contributed his 32nd home run of the year. The victory was supported by a pitching staff that limited Miami to seven total hits throughout the rain-delayed contest. Víctor Mederos earned the win to improve his record to 2-0 on the season.

Acuña’s Assisted Home Run and Offensive Production

Ronald Acuña Jr. recorded his first home run of the night in the third inning off Janson Junk, who fell to 5-7 with the loss. The play involved a defensive miscue in left-center field where Marlins center fielder Esteury Ruiz and left fielder Heriberto Hernández collided at the wall. Their gloves overlapped as they attempted to catch the fly ball, inadvertently pushing the ball over the fence. Acuña initially paused at first base because neither he nor the fielders immediately realized the ball had cleared the wall. This marked Acuña’s first multihomer performance since May 30 and his second of the current season. He later added his 11th home run of the year with a solo shot in the eighth inning.

Olson and Dubón Fuel High-Scoring Innings

Matt Olson sparked a four-run outburst in the sixth inning by hitting a home run against left-handed reliever John King. Mauricio Dubón, making his first start of the season at second base, finished the night with four hits and two RBIs. Michael Harris II contributed significantly to the 11-run total by tallying three hits, including a pair of doubles. The Braves' offense capitalized on Miami's pitching changes to maintain their lead following a significant weather interruption.

Pitching Performance and Rain Delay Details

Left-hander Martín Pérez started for Atlanta, throwing three hitless innings and issuing one walk before a rain delay halted play for one hour and 24 minutes. Following the resumption of the game, five relievers combined to finish the contest. The Miami defense struggled to contain the Braves' hitters, who totaled double-digit runs to finalize the sweep. Janson Junk took the loss for the Marlins after surrendering the initial home run to Acuña during the third-inning collision.

Roster Adjustments and Managerial Decisions

Manager Walt Weiss opted to rest Ozzie Albies for the start of the game, snapping Albies' streak of 114 consecutive starts at second base. Albies eventually entered the lineup in the sixth inning as the designated hitter. Weiss noted that he had to convince the infielder to take the partial day off, joking that Albies removed him from his Christmas list due to the decision. The lineup adjustment allowed Dubón to showcase his utility in the middle infield while the Braves maintained their momentum to reach eight consecutive victories.