Ronald Acuña Jr. just dropped a three-run bomb against the Washington Nationals, but honestly, that’s not even the headline. What really went down Wednesday was Acuña smashing his way into MLB history, becoming the fastest player ever to rack up 200 career home runs AND 200 stolen bases.
A Milestone That Rewrites the Record Books
Seriously, this dude only needed *904 games* to crash the exclusive 200/200 club. That absolutely obliterates Alfonso Soriano’s old record, which stood at 929 games. Soriano set his mark back in August 2006, playing for the Nationals against the Braves, which is a wild full-circle moment, right? Acuña’s three-run shot to left-center in the seventh inning, his 14th homer of the season, pushed the score to 6-0. It wasn’t just a dinger; it was a historic blast that cemented his place. But let’s not forget the wheels. This wasn’t just about power. Earlier in the sixth, Acuña ripped a leadoff single off Nationals pitcher Riley Cornelio (2-2), then promptly swiped second base. That stolen base was his 225th career swipe and his 20th of the season. So yeah, he’s got the power *and* the speed, a combo that makes him an absolute nightmare for opposing teams. Watching him play, you just know you’re seeing something special, a true five-tool player who’s defining a new era.
Rain, Runs, and a Braves Beatdown
The Braves’ 9-0 beatdown of the Nats wasn’t exactly a clean sheet from the jump. The game got interrupted by a significant 1-hour, 25-minute rain delay in the fourth inning, which can totally throw a team off its rhythm. Before the skies opened up, Braves starter Grant Holmes was absolutely dealing, needing just a measly 26 pitches to retire the first nine Nationals batters he faced. Talk about efficiency! When play resumed, it was a whole new ballgame, and the Braves came out swinging. Sean Murphy, who’s been crushing it lately with his third homer in just five games, blasted a huge three-run shot in the sixth inning. That homer finally broke the scoreless tie and got the scoreboard moving. Murphy’s heroics came after Acuña’s leadoff single and an intentional walk to Michael Harris II, setting the stage perfectly. Nationals starter Brad Lord got into trouble early, loading the bases before the rain, and although Riley Cornelio came in and escaped that jam, he couldn’t hold off Murphy’s bat later on. Braves relievers Dylan Dodd worked a quick, scoreless inning, and Elieser Hernández (2-0) picked up the win, tossing three innings and only allowing two hits. One of those hits was James Wood’s two-out single in the sixth, which was actually Washington’s first hit of the entire game. Rough day all around for the Nats, compounded by catcher Keibert Ruiz having to leave in the fourth after taking a foul ball square off his mask.
What’s Next on the Diamond?
The Braves aren’t slowing down, heading to Philadelphia for a four-game series. Chris Sale (13-9, 2.06) is set to toe the rubber for them on Friday, facing off against the Phillies’ Cristopher Sánchez (16-4, 2.52). Meanwhile, the Nationals are back home to host the Los Angeles Dodgers, also starting Friday. This record-breaking performance from Acuña just continues to elevate his game, and you gotta wonder what other history he’s going to make this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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