In a nail-biting game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs, Ronald Acuna Jr. once again made MLB history.
Acuna stole second base in the 10th inning, marking his second steal of the night and his 70th stolen base of the season. With this achievement, Acuna became the first player in MLB history to hit at least 40 home runs and steal 70 bases.
This steal came just moments before his teammate Ozzie Albies drove him home for the winning run, securing the Braves the No. 1 seed in the National League playoffs.
“Very happy, mostly that we were able to win,” Acuña said through an interpreter after the 6-5 victory. “I’m extremely happy to have created the 40-70 club.”
With a total of 41 home runs so far, Acuna has had a truly historic season. He already became the first player to achieve 40-50 and 40-60 milestones.
Ronald Acuña Jr. ⤵️
41 HR *
70 SB *** 13 more than any other player with 70 SB in a season (Rickey Henderson, 1986)
** 24 more than any other player with 40 HR in a season (Alex Rodriguez, 1998) pic.twitter.com/JE3nNZ1Xbw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 28, 2023
Moreover, Acuna joins Otis Nixon from 1991 as the second Braves player to steal 70 bases in a season since 1900.
“It was one of those numbers that wasn’t impossible but seemed impossible,” Acuña said.
The game against the Cubs was no easy feat for the Braves. They faced multiple deficits of 3-1, 4-3, and 5-4, but managed to overcome them all.
In the ninth inning, Marcell Ozuna hit a tying home run, bringing the game to a draw. Then, in the 10th inning, Acuna singled home Kevin Pillar to tie the game at 5.
On the very first pitch to Albies, Acuna made his move and sprinted towards second base, sliding safely in a headfirst dive.
By clinching the No. 1 seed in the National League, the Braves now enjoy home-field advantage throughout the National League Championship Series if they advance that far.
Their impressive record of 102-56 means they only need one more win to guarantee home-field advantage even in the World Series.
