ATLANTA — William Contreras hopes Ronald Acuña Jr. is starting to hit his stride, even if it’s mid-September after being slowed by knee soreness most of the year.
“We’re talking about the best player in the league and thank God he’s on our team,” Contreras said via a translator. “He brings the energy to us.”
Acuña hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in a six-run eighth inning off Seranthony Domínguez and the Atlanta Braves rallied for a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.
The opposite-field shot erased a 2-1 deficit and touched off a wild celebration at sold-out Truist Park, helping the Braves stay a game behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East.