Wednesday’s Wild Card action brought a family doubleheader on the bases, with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Luisangel Acuña each turning one inning into a scramble for the defense. The Venezuelan brothers both stole second and third in their respective Game 2 appearances, producing a postseason first even though their clubs finished the night on opposite ends of the scoreboard.
Ronald gets Atlanta moving early
At Truist Park, Ronald Acuña Jr. set the tone in the opening inning of Atlanta’s 4-3 loss to Philadelphia in 10 innings. The Braves outfielder drew a walk, then immediately put the Phillies under pressure with consecutive steals.
- Acuña stole second after reaching on the first-inning walk.
- He then took third base.
- Matt Olson brought him home with a two-out single.
Atlanta’s late defeat sends the National League Wild Card Series to a deciding Game 3 on Thursday. The game will air on NBC and Peacock, with the start time still to be announced.
Luisangel’s sprint sparks White Sox clincher
Luisangel Acuña answered his older brother’s work from the American League side. Pinch-running for designated hitter Andrew Benintendi in the sixth inning at Daikin Park, the White Sox infielder swiped second and third before scoring on Chase Meidroth’s three-run home run.
That burst helped Chicago finish off a 7-3 victory over Houston and secure the Wild Card Series. Unlike Ronald, Luisangel ended the night with a ticket to the next round: the White Sox will meet Cleveland in the ALDS.
- Luisangel entered as a pinch-runner in the sixth.
- He stole two bases in the inning.
- Meidroth’s three-run homer drove him in.
- Chicago advanced with the 7-3 win.
The White Sox and Guardians are scheduled to open their ALDS on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, noon CT. TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max will carry the game.
A rare October entry for the Acuña brothers
The two steals apiece made the Acuñas the first pair of brothers to record multiple steals in the same postseason. They are also the first brothers to have each stolen two bases in one inning during their postseason careers.
Only two other brother combinations have reached at least two postseason steals apiece:
- Aaron Boone, with two, and Bret Boone, with five.
- Yuli Gurriel, with five, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., with two.
For one October afternoon and evening, the Acuña name meant the same thing in two ballparks: a runner aboard, a catcher hurriedly looking over his shoulder, and two bases suddenly in danger.
