Ronald Acuna got his first postseason home run.
With style.
The Braves rookie hit a second-inning grand slam to open the scoring flood gates. The Braves scored five times in the inning – after going scoreless in the first two innings of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers in Game 3 Sunday night at SunTrust Park.
» More: Ronald Acuna extends his exploits into postseason
The 20-year-old Acuna became the youngest player in baseball history to hit a grand slam in a postseason game. Prior to the blast, Mickey Mantle was the youngest, doing so at the age of 21 in the 1953 World Series.
The Braves first run of the series came when pitcher Sean Newcomb drew a base-loaded, two-out, four-pitch walk off Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler. Nick Markakis walked to lead off the inning. After two strikeouts, Ozzie Albies singled to center field. An error by Cody Bellinger put runners at second and third. The Dodgers elected to walk Charlie Culberson to load the bases.
Acuna came to the plate after the Braves scored for the first time in 19 innings. After three straight balls, a questionable high strike was called on Acuna.
The Dodgers should have taken the walk.
On the next pitch, Acuna homered to center field to give the Braves the 5-0 lead early. The Braves won 6-5, extending the series to a fourth game.
Acuna became the fifth-youngest player to hit a postseason home run behind Andruw Jones (19 years, 177 days), Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Miguel Cabrera.
