Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna exited in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game against the Phillies after he was hit in the hand by a pitch. X-Rays were negative and Acuna is day-to-day with a left-pinky finger contusion, the Braves announced during the ninth inning.
Phillies reliever Sam Coonrod hit Acuna’s left hand with a 98-mph sinker. Acuna, who was already frustrated after Coonrod’s previous pitch was inside, immediately slammed his helmet. He was in evident pain and walked to the dugout, leaving the game.
“We’ll see how he is in the morning and tomorrow afternoon when he comes in,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He was in good shape when I saw him after the game. He just had a Band-Aid on his pinky. We dodged a bullet.”
Snitker added he didn’t think Coonrod threw at Acuna intentionally given the situation. “This is a big ballgame for both clubs,” he said. “I don’t see that at all.”
Acuna is having an MVP-caliber season thus far. He’s hitting .313 with 10 homers, 22 RBIs and five stolen bases in 31 games.
The Braves rallied late in the game, with Pablo Sandoval’s pinch-hit homer sending the game to extra innings. The Braves won 8-7 in the 12th after scoring four times in the inning. Ehire Adrianza provided the game-winning hit.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
“Everyone knows Acuna is a big part of this team, it was a relief that nothing serious happened to him,” Adrianza said. “Hopefully we get him back in the lineup as soon as he feels good.”
