Acuña Leads Braves to 5-2 Victory Over Reds with Two Homers, Reaching 40 Wins

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. continued his impressive performance by hitting two solo home runs, guiding the Atlanta Braves to a 5-2 triumph against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday evening. Acuña's first homer came in the third inning, tying the game at 2-2 with a shot to right-center field off pitcher Brady Singer (2-5). The 2023 NL MVP later sealed the win with another two-out homer in the ninth, this time off Lyon Richardson, while also contributing with two stolen bases.

The Braves marked a significant milestone by becoming the first team to reach 40 wins this season. Ozzie Albies set the stage with a ground-rule double to start the second inning, later scoring on Mike Yastrzemski's single to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead. The Reds briefly turned the tide when JJ Bleday hit his ninth home run, putting them ahead 2-1 after two innings.

However, Jorge Mateo swung the momentum back for Atlanta with a blast to the second deck in left field, allowing the Braves to reclaim a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Matt Olson added to the score with his 16th home run in the seventh inning, extending the Braves' advantage to 4-2. Starting pitcher Martín Pérez (3-3) delivered a solid performance, yielding two runs and four hits over five innings, while three relievers combined to pitch a scoreless frame before Raisel Iglesias closed out the game flawlessly for his 10th save.

With this victory, Atlanta improved its road record to an impressive 23-9, the best in Major League Baseball. The Braves now look to complete a series sweep on Sunday with right-hander Spencer Strider (3-0, 3.46) on the mound, while the Reds will counter with lefty Nick Lodolo (1-1, 5.57).