Acuña’s leaping catch

Ronald Acuña Jr. ended Sunday night’s Braves-Phillies game with a running catch at the right-field wall, sealing Atlanta’s 4-2 win and three-game sweep on April 19. (espn.com) The play came with two outs in the ninth at Citizens Bank Park, after Bryson Stott doubled and Trea Turner struck out against Braves closer Raisel Iglesias. Kyle Schwarber then lined the ball to right, and Acuña caught it on the move for the final out. (espn.com) (mlb.com) Atlanta had trailed 2-0 after Schwarber’s first-inning, two-run homer, then pulled ahead with Michael Harris II’s leadoff homer in the third and a three-run fifth against Andrew Painter and Tim Mayza. Ozzie Albies doubled in a run, Austin Riley added a run-scoring infield single, and Matt Olson tied the game with a forceout. (espn.com) (mlb.com) The sweep pushed the Braves to 15-7 and extended their winning streak to five games. ESPN’s recap said Atlanta had won nine of 11 and completed its first series sweep of at least three games in Philadelphia in 10 years. (espn.com) (baseball-reference.com) For Philadelphia, the final out landed in the middle of a sharp early-season slide. MLB.com said the Phillies fell to 8-13, lost their fifth straight and dropped 10 of 13, finishing a 2-7 homestand that was their worst nine-game home stretch since June 12-21, 2009. (mlb.com) The catch spread quickly beyond the box score because it closed a national television game between National League East rivals with the tying run aboard and Schwarber at the plate. NBC Sports posted the clip from Sunday Night Baseball, showing Acuña ranging back to the wall to finish the sweep. (nbcsports.com) Acuña’s defense was not Atlanta’s only key stop. Riley made a play at third in the fifth that ESPN said saved at least one run and helped keep the Braves in front after they took the lead. (espn.com) The result also fit the shape of Atlanta’s first three weeks. MLB’s game story said the Braves entered April 19 leading Major League Baseball in runs scored with 122 and in earned run average at 2.66. (mlb.com) Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said, “We’re not used to this,” after the loss, while Schwarber said the frustration was obvious but added that the club had climbed out of rough stretches before. Acuña’s catch made sure this one ended with Atlanta still rolling north to Washington and Philadelphia opening a four-game set in Chicago. (mlb.com) (espn.com)