December 12, 2018 9:47 PM PST
ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr. had a case of jitters before
he stepped in the batter’s box for the first time Tuesday night.He had homered
in the leadoff spot twice in a doubleheader the day
before [url=http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-albert-pujols-jersey]Albert
Pujols Jersey[/url] , so even Acuna wondered if it could happen again.“I wasn’t
sure I’d be able to hit another home run like that,” he said through a
translator. “At first I laughed a lot, but then I got nervous again.”He didn’t
stay nervous for long.Acuna became the youngest player in major league history
to homer in five straight games, hitting a leadoff shot on the first pitch and
adding a three-run long ball in the seventh inning to help the surging Atlanta
Braves beat the Miami Marlins 10-6.Freddie Freeman hit his 20th homer to tie it
in the sixth, and Dansby Swanson had a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh as
the NL East-leading Braves won for the 13th time in 17 games to take a two-game
lead over Philadelphia. Atlanta is 16 games over .500 for the first time since
winning the division five years ago.The 20-year-old Acuna homered on Miami’s
first pitch for the second straight night and became the first player to hit a
leadoff homer in three consecutive games since Baltimore’s Brady Anderson went
deep in four straight in 1996. On Monday, he became the fourth player in major
league history to hit leadoff homers in both games of a doubleheader.“You see
him smiling,” Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte said. “It’s contagious what
he’s doing. He’s best leadoff hitter I’ve ever seen. He’s the best player I’ve
ever seen. Hopefully he’s going to continue to help us in the long run.”Acuna
went deep to left-center in the first off Trevor Richards and homered to
right-center, his 19th of the year, off left-hander Adam Conley to give the
Braves a 10-6 lead in the seventh.“Freddie and I were looking at each other,”
manager Brian Snitker said. “He was in the hole, and we were like, ‘My God, are
we seeing this?’ And the explosions when he hit ’em, too. I don’t know. It’s
pretty good.”J.T. Realmuto drove in four runs for Miami, hitting his 15th homer
to tie it at 2-all in the third and lining a two-run single in the fourth to
give the Marlins a 5-4 lead.Acuna, who went 3 for 5 and enjoyed his first
multi-homer
game [url=http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-babe-herman-jersey]http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-babe-herman-jersey[/url] ,
has homered in seven of his last eight games and is hitting .358 with 12 homers,
25 runs and 24 RBIs since moving to the top of the batting order, a stretch of
24 games beginning after the All-Star break.“We really didn’t have much of a
conversation about it,” the rookie said. “I just showed up one day and saw my
name in the leadoff spot. I didn’t think that much about it.”After Acuna and
Charlie Culberson homered on back-to-back pitches to make it 2-0, Atlanta took a
4-2 lead in the third inning on Johan Camargo’s RBI double and Inciarte’s RBI
triple. Kurt Suzuki’s RBI single chased Richards in the fifth and made it
5-all.Braves starter Anibal Sanchez gave up seven hits, two walks and five runs
— four earned — with six strikeouts in five innings.Jesse Biddle (4-1) earned
the win despite scuffling in the sixth, giving up Christopher Bostick’s
pinch-hit, RBI double and hitting Realmuto with a pitch to load the bases with
no outs. The left-hander escaped with a strikeout and a double play.“I could
feel the momentum change right there,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “They
came right back and scored on us.”Richards allowed 10 hits, five runs and two
walks and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings. Conley (3-3) allowed five hits and
five runs in two innings.Acuna has been the hottest Brave lately but he hasn’t
been alone. Since getting shut out by Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets on Aug.
4, Atlanta has scored 67 runs and hit 21 homers in the last 11 games.Freeman
stayed hot in the season series with Miami and is hitting .439 with eight homers
and 16 RBIs in 14 games this year against the Marlins.Acuna tied the Atlanta
record of homering in five consecutive games, a mark Brian McCann set in 2006.
The only other major leaguer younger than 21 to homer in four straight games was
Miguel Cabrera for the Marlins in 2004.“I think this is the first time I’ve ever
been hot, hot,” Acuna said. “It feels good, and you definitely show up with a
lot of confidence.”The Marlins have lost 13 of 15 and began the game tied with
San Diego for the NL’s worst record.TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: Mattingly said the
team will wait a couple of days to see if INF Miguel Rojas goes on the disabled
list with a left ankle contusion.Braves: RHP Brandon McCarthy, on the DL since
June 28 with right knee
tendinitis [url=http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-mike-piazza-jersey]Mike
Piazza Jersey[/url] , threw off the mound with no apparent problems and will
spend the next two weeks on a rehab assignment. McCarthy will work in relief if
he’s able to return when rosters expand next month. The 35-year-old has gone 6-3
with a 4.92 ERA in 15 starts.DESPAIGNE DEALTThe Marlins traded RHP Odrisamer
Despaigne to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations. Miami’s
40-man roster is now at 39.UP NEXTMarlins: RHP Jose Urena (3-12, 4.74 ERA) will
make his team-high 24th start. In three starts this year against the Braves,
Urena is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA.Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman (6-9, 4.27) will make his
second start against the Marlins since Atlanta acquired him in a trade with
Baltimore. Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts for the Braves. The New
York Mets reportedly will name Brodie Van Wagenen general manager, according to
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.After Sandy Alderson served as the team's general
manager from 2010 to 2018, the Mets began the offseason looking to fill the
vacancy. New York took its time with the interview process before narrowing its
list down to Van Wagenen, Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom and veteran
general managerDoug Melvin.Ultimately,Van Wagenenearned the nod.The decision
should not come as much of a surprise, as momentum had been building in Van
Wagenen's favor recently. Yahoo Sports'Jeff Passanreported on Oct. 26 that Van
Wagenen had emerged as the "significant favorite" and that the job was "his if
he wants it."While the Mets' inclusion of an agent in their search for a GM drew
criticism for potential conflicts of interest,Van Wagenen issued a statementon
his candidacy, pertheNew York Post'sMike Puma:"In my role as an agent, my
solution is to create opportunities for players to be successful both on and off
the field. By creating partnerships between players and teams, the interests of
all parties can be aligned. If the players are able to reach their peak
potential, the fans will be rewarded with a competitive team that can contend
for championships year in and year out. The clubs benefit with compelling,
sustainable and profitable entertainment franchises; and the players are
rewarded with a platform to realize their childhood dreams while receiving
compensation consistent with their tremendous talents."My conversations with the
Mets continue to be organic. I believe baseball is better when the Mets are
competitive and successful. That success is better for the fans,
players [url=http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-andre-ethier-jersey]http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-andre-ethier-jersey[/url] ,
and the economy of the sport. As Jeff and Fred [Wilpon] continue their search
for a new head of baseball operations, the players, fans and entire organization
will be motivated to have a leader with the skills and commitment to win. If the
Wilpons believe I am that person, we will have that conversation."The
44-year-oldVan Wagenen is the co-head of the baseball department at CAA Sports
and represents several high-profile Mets players, likeJacob deGrom,Noah
Syndergaard,Yoenis Cespedes, Todd FrazierandTim Tebow.Interestingly, Van Wagenen
made waves prior to spring training 2018 by accusing teams of collusion and
threatening a players boycott, according toUSA TodaySports'Gabe Lacques:"Many
club presidents and general managers with whom we negotiate with are frustrated
with the lack of funds to sign the plethora of good players still available,
raising further suspicion of institutional influence over the spending."Even the
algorithms that have helped determine player salaries in recent years are
suggesting dramatically higher values than owners are willing to spend.[...]"A
fight is brewing. And it may begin with one, maybe two, and perhaps 1,200
willing to follow. A boycott of spring training may be a starting point if
behavior does not start to change."Now, he is on the other side of the
table.
ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuna Jr. had a case of jitters before
he stepped in the batter’s box for the first time Tuesday night.He had homered
in the leadoff spot twice in a doubleheader the day
before [url=http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-albert-pujols-jersey]Albert
Pujols Jersey[/url] , so even Acuna wondered if it could happen again.“I wasn’t
sure I’d be able to hit another home run like that,” he said through a
translator. “At first I laughed a lot, but then I got nervous again.”He didn’t
stay nervous for long.Acuna became the youngest player in major league history
to homer in five straight games, hitting a leadoff shot on the first pitch and
adding a three-run long ball in the seventh inning to help the surging Atlanta
Braves beat the Miami Marlins 10-6.Freddie Freeman hit his 20th homer to tie it
in the sixth, and Dansby Swanson had a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh as
the NL East-leading Braves won for the 13th time in 17 games to take a two-game
lead over Philadelphia. Atlanta is 16 games over .500 for the first time since
winning the division five years ago.The 20-year-old Acuna homered on Miami’s
first pitch for the second straight night and became the first player to hit a
leadoff homer in three consecutive games since Baltimore’s Brady Anderson went
deep in four straight in 1996. On Monday, he became the fourth player in major
league history to hit leadoff homers in both games of a doubleheader.“You see
him smiling,” Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte said. “It’s contagious what
he’s doing. He’s best leadoff hitter I’ve ever seen. He’s the best player I’ve
ever seen. Hopefully he’s going to continue to help us in the long run.”Acuna
went deep to left-center in the first off Trevor Richards and homered to
right-center, his 19th of the year, off left-hander Adam Conley to give the
Braves a 10-6 lead in the seventh.“Freddie and I were looking at each other,”
manager Brian Snitker said. “He was in the hole, and we were like, ‘My God, are
we seeing this?’ And the explosions when he hit ’em, too. I don’t know. It’s
pretty good.”J.T. Realmuto drove in four runs for Miami, hitting his 15th homer
to tie it at 2-all in the third and lining a two-run single in the fourth to
give the Marlins a 5-4 lead.Acuna, who went 3 for 5 and enjoyed his first
multi-homer
game [url=http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-babe-herman-jersey]http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-babe-herman-jersey[/url] ,
has homered in seven of his last eight games and is hitting .358 with 12 homers,
25 runs and 24 RBIs since moving to the top of the batting order, a stretch of
24 games beginning after the All-Star break.“We really didn’t have much of a
conversation about it,” the rookie said. “I just showed up one day and saw my
name in the leadoff spot. I didn’t think that much about it.”After Acuna and
Charlie Culberson homered on back-to-back pitches to make it 2-0, Atlanta took a
4-2 lead in the third inning on Johan Camargo’s RBI double and Inciarte’s RBI
triple. Kurt Suzuki’s RBI single chased Richards in the fifth and made it
5-all.Braves starter Anibal Sanchez gave up seven hits, two walks and five runs
— four earned — with six strikeouts in five innings.Jesse Biddle (4-1) earned
the win despite scuffling in the sixth, giving up Christopher Bostick’s
pinch-hit, RBI double and hitting Realmuto with a pitch to load the bases with
no outs. The left-hander escaped with a strikeout and a double play.“I could
feel the momentum change right there,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “They
came right back and scored on us.”Richards allowed 10 hits, five runs and two
walks and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings. Conley (3-3) allowed five hits and
five runs in two innings.Acuna has been the hottest Brave lately but he hasn’t
been alone. Since getting shut out by Zack Wheeler and the New York Mets on Aug.
4, Atlanta has scored 67 runs and hit 21 homers in the last 11 games.Freeman
stayed hot in the season series with Miami and is hitting .439 with eight homers
and 16 RBIs in 14 games this year against the Marlins.Acuna tied the Atlanta
record of homering in five consecutive games, a mark Brian McCann set in 2006.
The only other major leaguer younger than 21 to homer in four straight games was
Miguel Cabrera for the Marlins in 2004.“I think this is the first time I’ve ever
been hot, hot,” Acuna said. “It feels good, and you definitely show up with a
lot of confidence.”The Marlins have lost 13 of 15 and began the game tied with
San Diego for the NL’s worst record.TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: Mattingly said the
team will wait a couple of days to see if INF Miguel Rojas goes on the disabled
list with a left ankle contusion.Braves: RHP Brandon McCarthy, on the DL since
June 28 with right knee
tendinitis [url=http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-mike-piazza-jersey]Mike
Piazza Jersey[/url] , threw off the mound with no apparent problems and will
spend the next two weeks on a rehab assignment. McCarthy will work in relief if
he’s able to return when rosters expand next month. The 35-year-old has gone 6-3
with a 4.92 ERA in 15 starts.DESPAIGNE DEALTThe Marlins traded RHP Odrisamer
Despaigne to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations. Miami’s
40-man roster is now at 39.UP NEXTMarlins: RHP Jose Urena (3-12, 4.74 ERA) will
make his team-high 24th start. In three starts this year against the Braves,
Urena is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA.Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman (6-9, 4.27) will make his
second start against the Marlins since Atlanta acquired him in a trade with
Baltimore. Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts for the Braves. The New
York Mets reportedly will name Brodie Van Wagenen general manager, according to
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.After Sandy Alderson served as the team's general
manager from 2010 to 2018, the Mets began the offseason looking to fill the
vacancy. New York took its time with the interview process before narrowing its
list down to Van Wagenen, Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom and veteran
general managerDoug Melvin.Ultimately,Van Wagenenearned the nod.The decision
should not come as much of a surprise, as momentum had been building in Van
Wagenen's favor recently. Yahoo Sports'Jeff Passanreported on Oct. 26 that Van
Wagenen had emerged as the "significant favorite" and that the job was "his if
he wants it."While the Mets' inclusion of an agent in their search for a GM drew
criticism for potential conflicts of interest,Van Wagenen issued a statementon
his candidacy, pertheNew York Post'sMike Puma:"In my role as an agent, my
solution is to create opportunities for players to be successful both on and off
the field. By creating partnerships between players and teams, the interests of
all parties can be aligned. If the players are able to reach their peak
potential, the fans will be rewarded with a competitive team that can contend
for championships year in and year out. The clubs benefit with compelling,
sustainable and profitable entertainment franchises; and the players are
rewarded with a platform to realize their childhood dreams while receiving
compensation consistent with their tremendous talents."My conversations with the
Mets continue to be organic. I believe baseball is better when the Mets are
competitive and successful. That success is better for the fans,
players [url=http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-andre-ethier-jersey]http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-andre-ethier-jersey[/url] ,
and the economy of the sport. As Jeff and Fred [Wilpon] continue their search
for a new head of baseball operations, the players, fans and entire organization
will be motivated to have a leader with the skills and commitment to win. If the
Wilpons believe I am that person, we will have that conversation."The
44-year-oldVan Wagenen is the co-head of the baseball department at CAA Sports
and represents several high-profile Mets players, likeJacob deGrom,Noah
Syndergaard,Yoenis Cespedes, Todd FrazierandTim Tebow.Interestingly, Van Wagenen
made waves prior to spring training 2018 by accusing teams of collusion and
threatening a players boycott, according toUSA TodaySports'Gabe Lacques:"Many
club presidents and general managers with whom we negotiate with are frustrated
with the lack of funds to sign the plethora of good players still available,
raising further suspicion of institutional influence over the spending."Even the
algorithms that have helped determine player salaries in recent years are
suggesting dramatically higher values than owners are willing to spend.[...]"A
fight is brewing. And it may begin with one, maybe two, and perhaps 1,200
willing to follow. A boycott of spring training may be a starting point if
behavior does not start to change."Now, he is on the other side of the
table.