Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. made his highly anticipated return to the lineup after tearing his ACL last season, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. In a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night, Acuna hit a towering solo home run off Padres starter Nick Pivetta in his first at-bat back.
Acuna’s 467-foot homer gave the Braves an early lead, but the team struggled to score again as Pivetta dominated the offense. The right-hander pitched six strong innings, scattering four hits and striking out seven Braves hitters.
The loss dropped the Braves to 24-26, leaving them still searching for a rebound after their 0-7 start. Acuna’s return is expected to be a boost for the team, as they hope it can help them regain momentum in pursuit of postseason contention.
Manager Brian Snitker praised Acuna’s impact on the game, saying he’s “one of those players that you better not go get a beer or whatever, because you might miss something really cool.” Third baseman Austin Riley added, “The talent is there. The energy he brings, having Ronald up there at the top of the lineup… he can change a game at any point.”
The Braves and Padres will meet again on Saturday for the second game in their three-game series.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/braves-ronald-acuna-jr-crushes-467-foot-home-run-first-pitch-return-from-acl-injury