The Atlanta Braves took down the Boston Red Sox 9-7 in 11 innings on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Atlanta took that 9-7 lead on a two-run single into left field from NL MVP candidate Austin Riley in the top of the 11th, and the way the second run scored on the play was amazing.
Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. came around to score thanks to great speed and an absolutely ridiculous slide. The throw from Boston left fielder Tommy Pham beat Acuña, but he was able to evade catcher Kevin Plawecki with an incredible slide to touch the front side of the plate with his right hand.
Check it out:
Runs for Riley!#ForTheA | @austinriley1308 pic.twitter.com/AxQhYoC01s
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 10, 2022
The replay angles of the slide really show off how unbelievable it was:
Ronald Acuña Jr. is unreal 🔥
Watch this. pic.twitter.com/pAyBNaAbid
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 10, 2022
That’s as good as slides get, and it came in a huge moment of the game. Had the Red Sox taken advantage of the runner-on-second rule with one run in the bottom of the 11th, Acuña’s run would’ve been the difference.
The play is also a great example of why Acuña — who’s just 24 — is one of the most exciting players in baseball.
And it’s one of the three runs Acuña scored on the night. One of the other runs also came on fantastic baserunning, when he scored from first on a play that few do for a go-ahead run in the eighth:
Watching Ronald Acuña Jr. go first to home here could provide enough electricity to power a city ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/h999a0Tj96
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 10, 2022
He also reached base four times (three hits and a walk).
Here’s a look at how baseball fans are reacting to Acuña’s mind-blowing slide:
"That slide was unbelievable. Any time he's on the bases, (he's) a threat."
Austin Riley appreciated that additional RBI via Ronald Acuña Jr.'s late-game baserunning. pic.twitter.com/e7U69tsSj6
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 10, 2022
Acuna Jr may be the most exciting baserunner since Rickey Henderson.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) August 10, 2022
air Acuña! pic.twitter.com/rSVkQWIpix
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 10, 2022
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the most valuable player on the team when he’s healthy, there is nothing he can’t do 😱pic.twitter.com/oC92EtnWPN
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) August 10, 2022
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the most electric player on the basepaths in baseball. And Austin Riley is MVP.
— Patrick MacCoon (@PMacCoon) August 10, 2022
Acuña is fun to watch as a baseball fan. But his incredible dive might have killed the Red Sox there. It's 9-7.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 10, 2022
Tha acumen of Ronald Acuña to steal second base and the instincts he showed on that slide are just a couple of the things that make him a special player. #Braves
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) August 10, 2022
Acuna with one of the best slides you’ll ever see. Dead meat on the throw home and just found a way to avoid tag and get the dish. What a talent
— Dave Cokin (@davecokin) August 10, 2022
