This was the Braves’ long-awaited payback for Jose Urena. And their revenge came in the form of six runs and a win.
It was their second time facing the Marlins righty since he plucked Ronald Acuna last season, a controversy that sparked animosity between the sides. Kevin Gausman was suspended for a retaliation throw at Urena in their meeting last month, but the Braves got the last laugh Friday.
Urena was tagged for six runs, getting just nine outs, and the Braves coasted to a 7-1 victory over the Marlins in Miami. It was a resurgent night for an offense that wilted in Pittsburgh.
Freddie Freeman opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first, his fourth in six games this month. Acuna, who had three RBIs, plated the third with a second-inning single. Ozzie Albies’ RBI-single made it 4-0 in the third.
The loudest run came courtesy of Acuna, who plastered a ball to center field in the fourth. Acuna performed a dramatic bat flip as he neared first base, then took his time around the bases before celebrating at home plate and in the dugout.
“There’s not much to say, y’all saw it,” Acuna said with a smile, via team interpreter Franco Garcia. Acuna assures the spectacle of a bat flip won’t be his greatest work - “I’ve got another one lined up.”
Dansby Swanson singled and Freeman doubled following Acuna’s blast, wrapping up Urena’s night. If Friday marked the true end of the Urena-Acuna saga, the Braves got the last laugh.
While the bats were asserting their will on Marlins arms, Mike Soroka was mowing down a lineup that’s been better lately. He held Miami to one hit over his first five innings and avoided trouble in the sixth with a timely double play.
Soroka was lifted after walking Curtis Granderson to begin the ninth and was charged with a run in eight innings because Granderson came around to score against Dan Winkler.
Soroka is second in the majors with a 1.38 ERA, trailing the Dodgers’ Hyun-Jin Ryu (1.35). He qualified after completing the sixth inning.
“Really good,” manager Brian Snitker said. “Strike after strike. Got a ground ball when he needed it. It was really good. Efficient against a team that’s been hot. He’s stayed on the attack all night.”
The Braves are 6-1 against the Marlins this season. They’re 2-7 against everyone else in the National League East. They go for a series win Saturday, with Julio Teheran facing Marlins righty Trevor Richards.
