3 Atlanta Braves takeaways from clinch night at SunTrust Park

2. Random Acts of Unselfishness

Ronald Acuna was on base … technically 4 times on Friday night.

I say ‘technically’ since on one of those occasions, he was merely trotting around the bases without stopping to visit any of them for more than a step.

He did not attempt a stolen base… leaving him at 37 on the year and 3 short of that historic 40-plateau.

In the 1st inning, he really didn’t have a chance to even get the rhythm of Giants starter Tyler Beede as Ozzie Albies ripped the first pitch he saw up the middle for a single that ended up getting both runners in scoring position.

In the 3rd inning, it was a 1 out double for Acuna with the Braves up 1-0.  Albies took a pitch low, then missed a strike before knocking Acuna in with a single.

There was a 2-pitch opportunity to steal there, but he held his position… and the Braves did get a run without having a chance at an out at third base.

5th inning… a homer with Foltynewicz on with a rare (infield) single of his own.  That was an opposite field power shot that had to make everybody in the dugout smile knowingly… Acuna is clearly getting his groove back at the plate.

But when the 7th inning rolled around and Acuna walked to lead off the inning, the speculation was whether he’d try a steal with a 6-0 lead.  He did not.

Personal milestones – historic ones at that – are rare and should not be overlooked.  But it takes a maturity to set things like that aside to respect your opponent.

We don’t know if Acuna specifically had the Stop Sign raised on him or not.  If so, he honored the wishes of his manager.  If not, he honored an opponent.  In so doing, he also honored a man – Bruce Bochy – who had previously made sure that his celebrating team paid honor to their opposing manager in 2010 – Bobby Cox.

Regardless:  the night wasn’t all about Ronald Acuna.  Given his 2 for 2 night with 2 walks, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI, it certainly could have been.

But on this night, he was a team player.