Acuña fends off fans, ties career highs with 4 hits and 5 RBIs in Braves’ 14-4 rout of Rockies
Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 28, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tyler Schank/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
DENVER - Ronald Acuña Jr. fended off two fans, including one who made contact with him in right field, while sparking the Atlanta Braves to a 14-4 rout of the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
Acuña tied career highs with four hits and five RBIs, hitting his 29th home run and stealing two bases to increase his major league-leading total to 61. He is one homer shy of becoming the first 30/60 player.
One fan got his arms against Acuña during the middle of the seventh inning, just after Atlanta scored four runs to open a 9-4 lead. Two security people quickly grabbed the fan and, as they tried to drag him away, a third security person approached.
A second fan then sprinted toward the group and was tackled was one of the security people as a fourth member of security chased from behind.
Acuña did not appear to be injured and remained in the game.
Major league-best Atlanta (85-45) had 18 hits. The Braves have won four of five and 10 of 13.
Colorado (49-82) was assured its fifth consecutive losing season.
Acuña became the fourth player 25 or more homers and 60 or more steals, joining Hall of Famers Joe Morgan (1973, ’76) and Rickey Henderson (1986, ’90) along with Eric Davis (1986).
ACUÑA ACCOSTED: FANS RUSH, HUG, AND KNOCKDOWN BRAVES STAR OUTFIELDER AT COORS FIELD
Acuña, who leads the major leagues with 119 runs,. scored on Austin Riley’s third-inning homer against Austin Gomber and hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Karl Kaufmann (1-4).
Acuña singled leading off the seventh and stole second off Evan Justice, getting a huge jump and sliding into second as Justice threw vainly to first. He scored on a single by Riley, who had three RBIs.
Acuña singled in the eighth and stole second off Tommy Doyle without a throw.
Kevin Pillar put the Braves in front to stay at 5-4 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, then robbed Nolan Jones of extra bases in the bottom half with a spectacular diving catch in left.
Sean Murphy doubled three times and drove in a run for the Braves, who have won six in a row at Coors Field.
Ryan McMahon homered for the Rockies, who fell to 0-5 this season against the Braves.
Braves All Star second baseman Ozzie Albies went 0 for 4 in his return from the injured list after missing 12 games due to a strained left hamstring.
Bryce Elder (11-4) won his third straight decision, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings.
Gomber left with an apparent injury after giving up a triple to Matt Olson with two outs in the third.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: RHP Darius Vines was recalled from Gwinnett. Lefty Jared Shuster was optioned to the Triple-A team along with infielder Vaughn Grissom, who had started a handful of games at second in Albies’ absence.
Rockies: 2B Brendan Rodgers was a late scratch from the lineup because of illness. … INF-OF Kris Bryant was scheduled to have an X-ray of his fractured left index finger to determine if it has healed to the point where he can intensify his rehab efforts in hopes of returning this season. He has been sidelined since July 22. … RHP Ryan Feltner was set to take the next step in his recovery from a fractured skull and concussion. Feltner, who was injured May 13 when he was struck in the head by a comebacker, was headed to the High-A Spokane Indians. He’s scheduled to make a pitching appearance Wednesday, his first in a game since the injury.
UP NEXT
Atlanta RHP Charlie Morton (13-10, 3.37 ERA) is slated to start Tuesday night against RHP Peter Lambert (3-4, 4.92 ERA).