WASHINGTON — Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. claimed shortstop Orlando Arcia predicted the team would hit back-to-back home runs Saturday.
Acuña offered that tidbit to reporters after he and Matt Olson did just that right off the bat in what became a 7-1 victory for the Braves over the Washington Nationals. The teams resumed a three-game series that started Thursday on opening day, when five-time reigning National League East Division champion Atlanta won 7-2.
Olson, who ended up with two of his team’s four homers Saturday, wasn’t so sure about the veracity of the anecdote.
“Just so you all know: We called it in BP,” Acuña said through a wide smile. “Arcia was the one who said: ‘I think today we’re going to get our first back-to-back home runs.'”
When that was relayed to Olson, who produced 34 homers and 103 RBIs in 2022 and added a two-run shot in the seventh inning Saturday, he smirked and said: “He might have made that up.”