The Cardinals’ rookie infielder, who has taken ownership of a starting job, and his fiancée Kristen Shiotani originally had scheduled their wedding for Saturday. The minor-league season would have been over for a month. He’d be back home in San Diego. Perfect. And then, the promotion.
After Ronald Acuna Jr.’s lack of urgency in Game 1 turned a double into a single in the seventh inning and then celebrated his homer in the ninth by sashaying around the bases, Braves manager Brian Snitker spoke with his talented 21-year-old outfielder. The nonchalance on the single was the focus of the talk because it might have cost the Braves a run.