PHILADELPHIA — Ronald Acuña Jr. gave the irate Phillies fans a curtain call after hitting a tying three-run homer, and the Atlanta Braves used a late rally to defeat Philadelphia 5-4 on Sunday, extending their lead in the National League East to five games.
Acuña hit a 100.5 mph fastball off Phillies reliever Alex McFarlane deep into the right-field seats in the top of the eighth inning to tie the score 4-4.
The fans at Citizens Bank Park showered Acuña with boos as he slowly rounded the bases. He later emerged from the dugout for a curtain call, his right arm extended in the air in celebration.
“I love the fans from Philly because they boo me,” Acuña said after the game, according to MLB.com. “So, that’s motivation.”
It was home run No. 16 this season for Acuña. The homer was Acuña’s 1,000th career hit, and he joined Hank Aaron as the only Braves player to have 1,000 hits, 200 homers and 200 stolen bases.
In the ninth inning, Ozzie Albies legged out a double off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran (2-5), and Austin Riley followed with a triple off the center-field wall, giving the Braves the lead.
Philadelphia wasted a strong effort from starter Aaron Nola, who allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. Nola has gone eight consecutive starts allowing three runs or fewer, his longest such stretch of starts since 2019.
In the seventh inning, Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 42nd home run, and pinch-hitter Derek Hill added a solo shot, his 10th of the season, for the Phillies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
