ATLANTA — Their offense has been particularly relentless of late, led by a leader, Ronald Acuña Jr., who has been nothing short of sensational in the first 70 games of the season.
But even on a night when Acuña once again pulled off something historic on Friday – becoming the first player to hit at least 15 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a team’s first 70 games – it was Travis d’Arnaud who 34- year-old catcher whose game time was shortened by the acquisition of Sean Murphy, who wielded the biggest stick in Atlanta’s powerful lineup.
Hitting two-run home runs in the first and third innings of an 8-1 win over Colorado, d’Arnaud doubled his home run total from the previous season and secured the longest hit by a Brave this season. That’s saying a lot when you consider that the Braves not only have the most 450-foot homers in the majors this season, but also more than the two teams with the next highest totals combined — the Rockies and Angels, six each.
The official estimate was 474 feet on his booming first inning drive up into midfield ahead of Rockies right-hander Dinelson Lamet, who also conceded a 433-foot throw to d’Arnaud and a 443-foot two-run in the third inning. Home run for Eddie Rosario in the fourth as the Braves built an 8-0 lead. They recorded their fourth straight win and finished 11th in 13 games, and had a season high of 18 games over .500 at 44-26.
“My god, both — those things made a big difference,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of d’Arnaud’s home runs. He smiled. “I said to him, ‘Maybe I’ve played you too much in the last few years.’ But no, they were very impressive. Also some really nice swings. It’s not like he’s jumping out of his shoes. He just has really good passes on the ball and he has really good bats. It’s really a testament to him as he stays prepared. If he gets his chance, it’s very productive.”
The Braves are averaging 1.69 homers per game and leading the majors, and five Braves rank among the NL’s top 24 homers, including Matt Olson (19 homers), Acuña (15), Ozzie Albies (15) and Marcell Ozuna (13). ) and Murphy, who has 12 of 56 games played.
“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing,” said d’Arnaud, who hit four home runs in 25 games. “I mean, from the first hit you have tremendous power. I still don’t know if I believe Statcast because I could have sworn Ronnie kept hitting him. But yes, from one to nine everyone has power and is really dangerous. Makes for a hard sleep the night before (for a starting pitcher).”
D’Arnaud was likely referring to the 470-foot home run Acuña hit on May 10, although that wasn’t clear, since Acuña has six home runs spanning at least 450 feet this season, twice as many as anyone else Major League batsman.
So d’Arnaud was asked if he wasn’t sure about the estimate of 474? He then laughed and said, “I’ll claim it for myself every day of my life.” That’s what it said, that’s what it said.”
Here’s what d’Arnaud said about Acuña, who led the first inning with a walk, then stole second base with his 30th steal and 15 home runs before advancing to third base on a groundout and on a wild pitch to 1- 0 lead.
“I’ve never seen that before,” d’Arnaud said of the level of performance Acuña was at. “It’s really exciting to see him just set the table and also eat off the table when there are runners on the table. I think he’s the MVP and to be on his team and see him do it every day is really special.”
Acuña’s 30 stolen bases are 50 percent above the next highest NL total – 20 by Pittsburgh’s Ji Hwan Bae. The Braves star said through an interpreter that he doesn’t know how many he’ll end up with, but he plans to keep running every time he’s on first base.
Ronald Acuña Jr. scores from under Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet after a wild pitch in the first inning at Truist Park. (Dale Zanine / USA Today)
“I’m very proud and happy,” Acuña said of reaching 15-30 so quickly. “Obviously last year (after my injury) I wasn’t able to max out the skills I know I’m capable of. Hopefully I can just stay healthy and continue to play the way I’ve played and continue to showcase and prove my talents.”
Snitker said of Acuña’s 15:30 win in 70 games, “He’s probably going to do that for the rest of his career. It’ll probably be game-changing here for a while, until he tops everything and then starts lapping himself.”
The Braves have won three straight games started by rookies — Dylan Dodd in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader game in Detroit, AJ Smith-Shawver in his second MLB start in Thursday’s series opener, and Jared Shuster, the the Rockies to five hits and a limited run with three walks and two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Being set on a lead like that in the first inning helps any pitcher relax, but especially an inexperienced one. The Braves have 62 runs in the first inning that lead the majors.
Jesse Chavez on IL, presence still felt
The Braves haven’t felt the absence of Jesse Chavez as much in his first two games since the popular veteran was placed on the 15-day injured list. For one thing, they’ve beaten the Rockies twice each in the first two games of a four-game series, and neither game required late high-leverage performances.
It’s also because his bullpen buddies wore Chavez’s number 60 jersey on a makeshift mannequin that had stood in her bullpen behind the outfield fence for the past two nights when it wasn’t being swung and trotted around by the substitutes after hitting a few home runs , as it was after the second of d’Arnaud’s homers on Friday.
The jersey piece was a cheeky gesture on behalf of a well-travelled 39-year-old pitcher who is as popular as anyone on the squad – in the clubhouse and with many fans.
Chavez, who was enjoying a stunning 16th season in the majors – he has a 1.55 ERA in 31 appearances – landed in the IL after falling in Detroit from a 99-mph one-hopper after Miguel Cabrera’s bat hit below the left knee.
“It’s obviously hard to lose him,” said substitute AJ Minter, one of his closest friends on the team. “I just hate it for him because he’s having one of the best years of his career. Even if it’s nothing serious, you want him to continue to be out there making a good pitch.”
X-ray and imaging tests came back negative and Chavez was diagnosed with a contusion, avoiding what could have been a far more serious injury if the ball had hit the bone directly, rather than hitting the upper part of his self-described thin calf. But since the Braves weren’t sure he’d be ready in a few days and didn’t want to be undermanned, they placed him in the IL and brought in Ben Heller from Triple A.
Heller on Friday had two scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and five strikeouts, the best of his career, in his first MLB appearance since September 2020 when he played with the Yankees. Heller, 31, arrived June 6 in a swap from Tampa Bay for international bonus money.
Kirby Yates was the only other reliever the Braves used Friday, throwing 1 1/3 innings scoreless with three strikeouts.
The Braves anticipate Chavez will return once the 15-day minimum stay in IL is up. Prior to the injury, there was some debate locally and around baseball that Chavez would get an outside shot at an All-Star spot, unlikely as it would have been a few months ago when he was competing for a non-star spot . Squad invited to spring training.
His stats are worth considering, even though non-close substitutes are rarely called up to All-Star teams. Chavez has the fifth-lowest ERA among all NL pitchers (relievers or starters) who have totaled at least 20 innings, and only eight pitchers in the league had a lower home run rate prior to Friday than Chavez, who has conceded a home run in 29 innings .
“And that’s why I hate it for him, because I don’t want that to affect anything,” Minter said of the All-Star discussion.
A quirky, likeable, and slim right-hander with a penchant for fedoras and colorful street ensembles, Chavez relies on cunning and experience above all else. And he blossoms, moving pitches, changing speeds and hitting the corners of the hitting zone.
He has a four-pitch repertoire but mainly throws cutters and sinkers at average speeds of 88.5 and 91 mph. Despite the modest pace, Chavez attacks batsmen like he has the best power arm in the world. He throws bats and challenges batsmen.
Minter thinks Chavez belongs on the all-star team.
“It doesn’t matter which perspective you look at it from,” he said. “I mean, we all know the all-star (process), it’s kind of a popularity contest, and it’s difficult for us relievers to make an all-star team. If anyone deserves it, it’s Chavy. And there’s also the popularity aspect – Chavy is a fan favorite. No matter how you look at it, he deserves it.
“Like I said, he’s having the best year of his career. There isn’t another person in the league who deserves to represent for us, let alone the league as a whole.”
(Top Photo by Travis d’Arnaud: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)