The Braves followed up their 5-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 1 from their double header with an 8-0 shutout in Game 2, with breakout performances from their two stars.
Ronald Acuña, who hit a home game in Game 1, went 4-4 with two home runs in Game 2, hitting his average over .260, his OBP close to .400, and giving him four homers on the season. I think the dreads are not bad luck after all. As expected, the 22-year-old phenomenon begins to hit all cylinders in week three of the season, which is a nightmare for the rest of the NL-East.
Acuña is not the only star to break out in the double header. Freddie Freeman hit six hits on Sunday, three in each game. Of those six hits, one was a run at home, which he told the media after the game pursued a promise to his good buddy Jason Heyward, who now plays for the Cubs.
Freddie Freeman told his closest friend Jason Heyward that he hit a home game for him on Heyward’s 31st birthday on Sunday because the Cubs were not playing. Freeman delivered.
– David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 9, 2020
The two came together a decade ago as award-winning prospects in the Braves farming system.
Following today’s sweep of the Phillies today, the Braves sit 11-6 and top the NL-East through a half game over the Marlins. However, with half of Miami calling on the COVID-19 list, it is doubtful they will be able to maintain their winning ways. The Braves have at least a 3.5 game lead over the rest of the division, all of which are currently multiple games under .500. That’s pretty significant, because we’re almost one-third of the way through the season.
