Braves Today

WATCH: Braves Launch Back-to-Back Homers in Offensive Explosion

The top two hitters in the Atlanta Braves lineup Thursday hit back-to-back home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dave Holcomb|
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have struggled to score runs lately. But Thursday, the team received instant offense with back-to-back long balls in the sixth inning.

First, right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a 111 mph line drive just over the brick wall in right field.

Then one pitch later, catcher Drake Baldwin smashed a 391-foot bomb to the Chop House seats.

Acuña's homer came against a hanging curveball in a full count. The offspeed pitch was on the outer half versus the right-handed Acuña, but the 2023 MVP showcased his power to the opposite field.

According to MLB statcast, Baldwin hit his homer on a slider, which was about knee-high but in the middle of the plate.

Baldwin now has seven home runs this season. Acuña's bomb was his fourth since returning from the injured list on May 23.

The back-to-back homers from Acuña and Baldwin marked the sixth time this season the Braves posted home runs in consecutive at-bats. It was the first time Atlanta's offense did it since May 22 against the Washington Nationals.

Third baseman Austin Riley also homered for the Braves in the fifth inning. Riley has 11 bombs this season.

All three home runs for Atlanta were without anyone on base. That's been an issue for the Braves this season -- most of the team's homers have been with the bases empty.

But in the third inning, the Braves recorded four straight hits with runners in scoring position to build a six-run lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Braves lead the Diamondbacks 9-3.

Atlanta entered Thursday having lost 10 of its past 13 games. The Braves lost the first two games of the series versus Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday.

After Thursday's game, the Braves will fly to Northern California for a weekend series versus the San Francisco Giants.

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Dave Holcomb
DAVE HOLCOMB

Dave Holcomb writer covering the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves and Fantasy Sports for On SI. Holcomb has lived in the Atlanta area since 2017. He began his sports journalism career with The Star Ledger in northern New Jersey in 2013. During his career, he has written for numerous online and print publications. Holcomb has also self-published four books, including a novel in 2021. In addition to On SI, Holcomb also currently writes for Heavy.com and Athlon Sports.

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