CINCINNATI (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. homered for a third straight game — hitting a pair of solo shots — to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Saturday night.
to right-center field off Brady Singer (2-5) to tie it at 2 in the third inning. The 2023 NL MVP capped the scoring with in the ninth off Lyon Richardson. He also stole two bases to help the Braves become the first team to 40 wins.
Jorge — to the second deck in left field off Singer for a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Matt — off Brock Burke — to make it 4-2 in the seventh.
Martín Pérez (3-3) allowed two runs and four hits and walked three in five innings to earn the win. Three relievers each pitched a scoreless inning before Raisel Iglesias closed it with a perfect ninth for his 10th save.
Ozzie Albies hit a ground-rule double leading off the second before scoring on a single by Mike Yastrzemski to put Atlanta up 1-0.
Spencer Steer drew a one-out walk from Pérez to extend his on-base streak to 18 games and his ninth home run and second in as many days to put the Reds up 2-1 after two innings.
De La Cruz answered with a one-out triple, but was stranded when Pérez retired Sal Stewart on a grounder to third before striking out Eugenio Suárez to keep it 2-2.
Singer gave up three runs and four hits and four walks in five innings. He has allowed eight home runs in his last 12 innings.
The Braves improved to 23-9 on the road — best in the majors.
Up next
Braves RHP Spencer Strider (3-0, 3.46) starts Sunday as Atlanta aims for a sweep of the Reds, who’ll start LHP Nick Lodolo (1-1, 5.57).
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