{"id":20670,"date":"2019-06-09T20:58:47","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T00:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/\/?p=20670"},"modified":"2019-06-09T20:59:10","modified_gmt":"2019-06-10T00:59:10","slug":"ronald-acuna-versus-jose-urena-a-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2019\/06\/09\/ronald-acuna-versus-jose-urena-a-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronald Acu\u00f1a versus Jose Ure\u00f1a: A Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine that someone just asked you to think of the most heated rivalries in Major League Baseball.\u00a0One of the first that probably came to your mind was the fierce rivalry between the\u00a0Boston Red Sox<\/a> and New York Yankees<\/a>. Or, maybe you thought of the Chicago Cubs<\/a> and St. Louis Cardinals<\/a>. There are definitely plenty of great rivalries that have evolved over the years, but arguably the most exciting and entertaining rivalry that has materialized in the past couple seasons has been between two players. That rivalry would indeed be\u00a0Atlanta Braves<\/a> reigning Rookie of the Year Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.<\/a><\/strong> versus Miami Marlins<\/a> hurler Jose Ure\u00f1a<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Ronald Acu\u00f1a versus Jose Ure\u00f1a<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The First Altercation<\/b><\/h3>\n

August 15th\u00a0\u2014 the day it all started. Acu\u00f1a was on a tear coming into the game. He had homered in five straight games \u2014 becoming the youngest player in MLB history to accomplish this feat \u2014 as well as homering in the lead-off spot twice in a doubleheader the day before. So, Ure\u00f1a decided he wasn’t going to become Acu\u00f1a’s next victim and decided to take matters into his own hands.<\/p>\n

The first pitch from Ure\u00f1a was the fastest pitch he had thrown all year\u00a0\u2014 registering at 97.5 mph, and it drilled Acu\u00f1a near his left elbow. After remaining on the ground for a few minutes, Acu\u00f1a eventually got up and walked to first base. On the way to first, Acu\u00f1a tossed his protective wrap on the mound. As one would expect, this turned into both teams clearing the benches. No punches were thrown, but obviously, both Braves players and coaches were furious with Ure\u00f1a. Especially angry were Braves manager Brian Snitker<\/a><\/strong> and first-base coach Eric Young<\/a><\/strong>, who both wanted to take a shot at the Marlins pitcher. After plenty of yelling, the umpires huddled, and, after discussion, ejected Ure\u00f1a from the game. Acu\u00f1a later left the game with left elbow discomfort.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Braves Take Exception<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This disgraceful move from Ure\u00f1a was in no doubt, intentional and erroneous. Acu\u00f1a had done nothing to deserve this despicable act. Throwing at someone isn’t justified just because he’s hitting the ball out of the park. And the Braves definitely took exception to it.<\/p>\n

“Fastest pitch he’s thrown all year, and it was clearly intentional, and it wasn’t right,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman<\/a><\/strong> said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“I’m not sure I’ve ever felt like that in a baseball game before. It’s just my emotion,” Snitker said<\/a>. “That kid didn’t deserve that. There’s just no reason for a young man to be hit like that when all he’s doing is playing the game.”<\/p>\n