MIAMI – Mindful of their history with Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Ureña, Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and his teammates settled the score by running it up Friday night.
Acuña celebrated a homer off Ureña with a showy bat flip as the Braves rocked the right-handed starter to win 7-1 in a National League East matchup.
Mike Soroka took a three-hit shutout into the ninth for Atlanta and won his seventh consecutive decision.
Ureña was suspended for six games for intentionally hitting Acuña on the arm with a pitch last August, triggering a melee. That likely explains why Acuña showboated a bit when he homered in the fourth inning, carrying his bat most of the way to first base before tossing it high over his right shoulder.
Acuña blew a big bubble with his gum after rounding second base, then pointed to the Braves’ dugout and shouted as he approached home plate.