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Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. hits 452-foot blast, robs homer

By Alex Butler
Atlanta Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 12th home run of the season Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Atlanta Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 12th home run of the season Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Atlanta Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a home run and robbed a long ball in an 8-3 with against the Washington Nationals.

The phenom made the plays Wednesday at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

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Washington took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from Anthony Rendon. The Braves snatched the momentum back in the top of the second frame. Charlie Culberson went yard with a three-run homer off of Tommy Milone to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead.

Milone was still in the game in the top of the fourth frame. He began the inning by allowing a single to Adam Duvall, before striking out Johan Camargo.

Flowers stepped into the box and hit his fifth home run of the season, giving the Braves a 5-1 advantage. Culberson followed with a single before being moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Mike Foltynewicz.

Then Acuna walked to the plate. The Braves rookie took a called strike on Milone's first offering. He then held off on two balls to take a 2-1 lead in the count. Milone then fired in an 87.2-mph fastball. Acuna obliterated the offering to deep center field for a two-run homer. The long ball traveled an estimated 452 feet and had an exit velocity of 105.2 mph, according to Statcast.

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Acuna's most acrobatic play came in the bottom of the fourth inning. The rookie was manning center field when Matt Adams stepped in to face Foltynewicz. The Braves starter tossed in an 80.3-mph curveball, which Adams sent screaming to right center field. The ball carried toward the warning track as Acuna gave chase. He eventually left his feet and snagged the ball as he held his glove over the outfield fence.

The Nationals attempted to comeback after scoring on a fielding error in the fifth inning and getting a solo home run from Bryce Harper in the bottom of the sixth frame.

Freddie Freeman plated the Braves' final run with an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning.

Acuna is now hitting .264 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs this season.

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