ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit essentially the most majestic house run because the Braves ran their successful streak to 10 video games with a 3-2 victory over the Nationals on Tuesday night time at Truist Park. However the recreation’s two most satisfying homers had been hit by Michael Harris II.
“It feels good,” Harris stated. “I suppose the previous week I’ve been engaged on one thing particular, and I’ve obtained some good outcomes the previous two days. We’re simply successful some good baseball video games. In order that’s sort of the entire objective there, simply attempting to really feel good and win baseball video games.”
The Braves aren’t going to the postseason for the primary time since Harris was starting his junior yr at suburban Atlanta’s Stockbridge Excessive College in 2017. However whereas successful 10 straight video games for the primary time since ‘22, they’re distancing themselves from a season-opening 0-7 street journey and the numerous different struggles endured over the previous few months.
This late-season surge has given the Braves motive to be ok with returning subsequent yr with a wholesome Acuña, who has reached the 20-homer mark regardless of being sidelined a bit greater than two months by a number of accidents. His newest blast was the Statcast-projected 433-foot solo homer he hit into the right-center-field seats off Brad Lord within the sixth.
It was the second-longest opposite-field house run within the Majors this season, trailing solely the Statcast-projected 436-foot shot the Yankees’ Aaron Choose hit in opposition to the Purple Sox on June 8.
“I do know there’s a variety of lefties on this league that want they may hit the ball like that, and he does it from the appropriate aspect,” Harris stated. “It’s spectacular.”
Harris and Hurston Waldrep each stated they wished each fan would get an opportunity to see Acuña hit related opposite-field pictures in batting observe daily. This newest homer backed Waldrep, who ended his sturdy rookie season by limiting the Nationals to at least one run over six innings. He posted a 2.88 ERA in 10 appearances (9 begins) and seemingly penciled himself into the season-opening rotation for subsequent yr.
In fact, Harris is an instance of how instant success doesn’t assure sustained success on the massive league stage. The 2022 Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr has battled by means of inconsistent seasons, none greater than the present one, which took an upturn on Tuesday when he ended a homerless streak of 94 at-bats (going again to his ultimate at-bat on Aug. 27) by homering in consecutive at-bats of this win.
Harris hit a one-out solo homer off Lord to right-center within the fifth then drilled a solo shot off Konnor Pilkington to heart within the seventh. Only one – a Statcast-projected 444 toes off Lord – traveled farther than Acuña’s opposite-field shot.
“I obtained a lot respect for [Harris],” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “By way of the ups and downs of the offensive struggles and changes and every little thing, he retains taking part in protection, retains successful video games on that aspect of the ball. So that you wish to see him do one thing like he did tonight.”
Harris’ sixth profession two-homer recreation and first since Sept. 19, 2024, may propel him to at the least enter the offseason inspired by a robust ultimate week.
Harris entered the All-Star break ranked final amongst certified MLB gamers with a .551 OPS. He rebounded impressively, rating third amongst qualifiers with a 1.139 OPS from July 18-Aug. 19. However he entered Tuesday having constructed an unsightly .452 OPS over his previous 31 video games going again to Aug. 20.
How do you cope with this type of roller-coaster season?
“You possibly can’t take into consideration the previous, and also you positive can’t get caught up sooner or later,” Harris stated. “So it is actually simply being the place your toes are and being higher than you had been yesterday.”
Harris is 7-for-13 with two doubles and two homers over his previous three video games. His success has been influenced by some mechanical changes.
“Once I had my second-half surge, my physique sort of obtained used to these mechanics, and I did not discover it,” Harris stated. “So I began to squat a bit bit in my load. So now I am attempting to remain a bit taller, hinge my hips and to be in a stronger place, to see the ball longer and maintain my head nonetheless.”
