Acuña dazzles, Braves feel at home at ASG

LOS ANGELES -- Ronald Acuña Jr. quite literally dazzled on the 2022 All-Star Game Red Carpet at L.A. Live on Tuesday afternoon, sporting a sparkly black suit with statement sunglasses and a diamond chain featuring his nickname, “La Bestia.”

Hours later, the 24-year-old superstar continued to shine while batting leadoff for the National League at the 92nd Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium. Acuña sparked a two-run rally in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff double off Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan, but the American League used a pair of fourth-inning blasts from the Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton and the Twins' Byron Buxton to rally for a 3-2 victory and pick up its ninth consecutive win in the event.

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Acuña headlined a sizable contingent for the Braves, who also sent third baseman Austin Riley, shortstop Dansby Swanson, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, designated hitter William Contreras and left-hander Max Fried to Los Angeles. All saw action except for Fried, who was inactive after throwing 94 pitches over seven innings on Saturday in his final start before the All-Star break.

The six All-Star selections were the most for Atlanta since 2011, when it had five players in attendance. As the defending World Series champions, the Braves also had a heavy presence on the NL coaching staff, with Brian Snitker serving as the manager for the Senior Circuit.

“It feels great,” Acuña said in Spanish. “It feels like we’re at home.”

Acuña missed last year’s All-Star Game after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, but he quickly showed why he belongs on the big stage. The La Guaira, Venezuela, native sent McClanahan’s second pitch of the game down the left-field line for a double and then scored on a single from the Dodgers' Mookie Betts for the game's first run. The NL extended its lead to 2-0 in the opening frame on a solo homer by the Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt.

Acuña’s ability to jolt the offense was nothing new to his Braves teammates, who have watched him blossom into one of the most talented hitters in the game since he burst onto the scene in 2018.

“He’s a very special player,” d’Arnaud said. “He gets us going on streaks like that, too, so it was cool to see him do it in the biggest spotlight and score the first run of the All-Star Game. It was cool.”

Acuña struck out against Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah in the second and grounded out against Rangers lefty Martín Pérez in the fifth to finish 1-for-3. Acuña, whose 3,503,188 votes were the most received by any NL player on the All-Star ballot, was replaced in right field by the Cubs' Ian Happ in the top of the sixth.

“I’m really happy,” Acuña said Monday. “We have to work really hard to get here. It wouldn’t be possible without the fans, either, so I’m really grateful. Hopefully, there will be many more All-Star Games to come.”

Acuña was joined in the NL starting lineup by Contreras, who served as the designated hitter in place of the injured Bryce Harper in his first career All-Star Game. Contreras batted behind his brother, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, and struck out looking against Manoah in his lone plate appearance in the second.

Riley, Swanson and d’Arnaud -- three other first-time All-Stars -- entered the game in the sixth as defensive replacements, with Riley notching a single off Yankees reliever Clay Holmes to lead off the eighth.

“That was pretty sweet,” Riley said. “I can mark that one off. There were a lot of nasty pitchers, so I was lucky enough to get one.”

d’Arnaud went 0-for-1 and reached on a hit-by-pitch in the sixth, while Swanson finished 0-for-2.

“It was such an honor,” Swanson said. “It was so cool to share the field with so many great players. It’s a prestigious thing. It’s amazing to be a part of. It’s one of those things that kind of just allows you to feel like a kid again and play this game the way that I grew up playing. I’m very grateful.”