MLB report: Ronald Acuña Jr. hits 2 HRs as Atlanta beats Twins
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott, right, reacts past Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy after hitting a triple off relief pitcher Nick Robertson during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 11, 2023, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Derik Hamilton
Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two of Atlanta’s five homers — all in the first two innings — and power-hitting Atlanta beat Joe Ryan and the Minnesota Twins, 6-2, on Tuesday night.
Acuña sparked the barrage of long balls by hitting Ryan’s first pitch into Atlanta's bullpen in rightfield. Thanks to a productive June, Atlanta leads the majors with 146 homers. Beginning the night, the Los Angeles Dodgers were second with 124.
Atlanta hit five homers in its first 10 at-bats and has 54 this month, only two shy of the franchise record for any month set with 56 in June 2019.
Austin Riley hit a two-run shot and Sean Murphy also hit a homer in Atlanta's four-run first inning. Michael Harris II and Acuña added back-to-back shots in the second. It marked the first time Atlanta hit five homers in the first two innings since May 28, 2003, against Cincinnati.
Ryan (8-5), coming off a shutout in a 6-0 win over Boston on Thursday, had allowed only two homers in four June starts, and eight for the season.
Bryce Elder (6-1) overcame four walks to allow two runs in six innings, leaving his NL-leading ERA at 2.44.
Jazz Chisholm contributed three RBIs in his return from a 38-game absence with a right turf toe injury. Garrett Cooper added two RBIs, Jorge Soler had an RBI double, and Joey Wendle finished with four hits.
Luis Arraez, who entered the day with a .399 average, struck out for the first time since June 14. But he had a single and RBI double to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
...... — AP
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