The Atlanta Braves took down the Boston Red Sox 9-7 in 11 innings on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Atlanta took that 9-7 lead on a two-run single into left field from NL MVP candidate Austin Riley in the top of the 11th, and the way the second run scored on the play was amazing.
Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. came around to score thanks to great speed and an absolutely ridiculous slide. The throw from Boston left fielder Tommy Pham beat Acuña, but he was able to evade catcher Kevin Plawecki with an incredible slide to touch the front side of the plate with his right hand.
Check it out:
The replay angles of the slide really show off how unbelievable it was:
That’s as good as slides get, and it came in a huge moment of the game. Had the Red Sox taken advantage of the runner-on-second rule with one run in the bottom of the 11th, Acuña’s run would’ve been the difference.
The play is also a great example of why Acuña — who’s just 24 — is one of the most exciting players in baseball.
And it’s one of the three runs Acuña scored on the night. One of the other runs also came on fantastic baserunning, when he scored from first on a play that few do for a go-ahead run in the eighth:
He also reached base four times (three hits and a walk).
Here’s a look at how baseball fans are reacting to Acuña’s mind-blowing slide:
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the most electric player on the basepaths in baseball. And Austin Riley is MVP.
— Patrick MacCoon (@PMacCoon) August 10, 2022