{"id":62125,"date":"2023-09-12T07:00:42","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T11:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=62125"},"modified":"2023-09-11T22:07:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T02:07:45","slug":"acuna-delivers-as-braves-clinch-sixth-straight-postseason-berth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/09\/12\/acuna-delivers-as-braves-clinch-sixth-straight-postseason-berth\/","title":{"rendered":"Acu\u00f1a Delivers as Braves Clinch Sixth Straight Postseason Berth"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Atlanta Braves<\/a>\u2019 Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.<\/a> delivered the crucial two-out, seventh-inning single that drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> on Sunday. The Braves became the first team to clinch a playoff berth with the victory.<\/p>\n

Atlanta (93-49) has now reached the postseason for a sixth straight year. That is the second-longest streak in franchise history. The Braves won 11 straight NL East titles from 1995 to 2005. Also, this is the 23rd time in 33 seasons in which the Braves have made the postseason, having missed only nine times (excluding the strike-shortened 1994 season).<\/p>\n

[metabet_core_game_tile query=”530813″ size=”350×300″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]<\/p>\n

Up next are the matters of clinching the NL East and securing the best record in MLB, which comes with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Following a Monday doubleheader split against the Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>, the Braves hold a 15-game lead over second-place Philadelphia in the NL East with 18 games remaining.<\/p>\n

Braves Clinch Playoff Berth<\/h2>\n

Atlanta Takes Hard-Fought Series Against Young Bucs<\/h3>\n

On Sunday, Brad Hand<\/a> (4-1) won in relief of rookie Allan Winans<\/a>, who allowed two runs and six hits while striking out eight in 6 1\/3 innings. A.J. Minter<\/a> struck out the side in the eighth and Raisel Iglesias<\/a> pitched a scoreless ninth for his 29th save in 31 chances. Colin Selby<\/a> (2-1) gave up four runs in one-third of an inning. Pirates rookie Luis Ortiz<\/a> had allowed one run and three hits in 5 1\/3 innings against the major leagues’ highest-scoring offense.<\/p>\n

The young and plucky Pirates, with a starting lineup that at times featured as many as six rookies, took three of seven in head-to-head matchups against the Braves this season. Bryan Reynolds<\/a> and Jack Suwinski<\/a> had RBI doubles in the sixth. Olson’s run-scoring groundout cut the deficit in the sixth. With the Braves trailing 2-1 in the seventh and chants of “MVP” cascading throughout Truist Park, Acu\u00f1a hit a two-run single to deep right-center. The ball short-hopped the wall and Acu\u00f1a retreated to first base after drawing a cutoff throw as two runs scored. Matt Olson<\/a>, who went 2-for-3 on the day, added a two-run single later in the inning.<\/p>\n

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We would like to welcome y’all to the Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. show. \ud83d\ude24<\/p>\n

(MLB x @CoronaUSA<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/qoOOIpL2vb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB (@MLB) September 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n