ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. homered for the second straight game in his return after nearly a year on the shelf with a knee injury, and the Atlanta Braves defeated the San Diego Padres 7-1 on Saturday.
Acuña connected on the very first pitch he saw on Friday, in his season debut. On Saturday, he launched a 411-foot homer to left field to drive in two runs in the sixth inning, going 5-for-1 at the plate.
The 27-year-old Venezuelan is 9-for-13 in two games since his return, after missing the previous 161 games due to a torn ACL in his left knee.
Atlanta’s win snapped a seven-game skid against the Padres, a stretch that included a two-game playoff sweep by San Diego in last season’s National League playoffs.
Matt Olson belted his fifth homer in seven games for the Braves, who benefited from an unexpected Padres bullpen outing. Padres starter Michael King was scratched less than an hour before first pitch due to shoulder stiffness.
Grant Holmes (3-3) worked seven innings, allowing one run for his fifth quality start in ten chances this season. The 29-year-old right-hander yielded six hits, one walk and struck out six.
The Padres’ Dominican third baseman Manny Machado, who supplied the decisive hit in Friday’s game with a ninth-inning homer, went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two walks.
Padres starter Sean Reynolds (0-1) lasted two innings and two-thirds, giving up three runs on six hits, including Olson’s homer.
For San Diego, Dominican Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-4, Manny Machado 2-for-2 with an RBI. Venezuelans Luis Arráez 0-for-5, Elías Díaz 4-for-1.
For Atlanta, Venezuelan Acuña Jr. went 5-for-1 with a run scored and two RBIs. Dominican Marcell Ozuna 4-for-1. Mexican Alex Verdugo 3-for-2 with two runs scored.
