Braves celebrity Ronald Acuña Jr. made a show-stopping defensive play on Friday — however that didn’t cease the Yankees’ broadcast workforce from calling out the Bronx Bombers’ baserunning.
Within the prime of the third inning, Acuña caught a fly ball from Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger and nailed a Jorbit Vivas tagging from second to 3rd base on an ideal, no-hop throw, stopping New York from placing runners on first and third with Aaron Decide up subsequent to hit.
It was a troublesome gaffe in New York’s 7-3 loss of their first recreation again from the All-Star break.
Yankees announcers Michael Kay and Joe Girardi reacted to the play on YES Community, citing the missed alternative for the workforce, which couldn’t handle to attain within the inning after the double play.
“That may’t occur. These are little issues that price you an opportunity to have Aaron Decide hit with 1st and third,” Girardi, the previous Yankees skipper, stated.
“You simply took the bat out of Aaron Decide’s arms,” Kay stated. “Initially, you’re not working laborious to 3rd, then you definately don’t slide. As you stated, good phrase, inexcusable.”
“The Yankees should tighten up their baserunning. This has been occurring for a month now,” Kay added.
Acuña, who was named an All-Star for the fifth time in his profession this week, is simply two seasons faraway from profitable Nationwide League MVP for a Braves workforce that received 104 video games in 2023.
The outfielder tore his ACL in Could of the 2024 season and underwent season-ending surgical procedure, returning to motion on Could 23 of this yr — hitting a homer on the primary pitch he noticed.
This yr, he’s trying to return to type, to date at 12 dwelling runs in 22 RBIs by means of simply 45 video games within the first half of this season.
Thus far, he has a 1.025 OPS and is among the many league leaders in hitting with a .323 batting common on the yr.
