ATLANTA _ Ronald Acuna sure knows how to announce his returns.
For the second time since Aug. 26, Acuna homered in his first at-bat back from injury. And like the last time, he did it to begin a doubleheader. The eventual result: a 7-1 Braves' win Friday over the Nationals in Game 1.
The Braves didn't fare as well in Game 2, however, losing 10-9 to snap their five-game winning streak. Both contests were seven innings in accordance with MLB's doubleheader rules for the 2020 season.
Acuna opened the afternoon with a home run to center, his first of two off Nationals starter Austin Voth. Acuna didn't think it would carry out, slamming his bat in disgust before the ball floated over the wall. The blast tied Acuna with Felipe Alou for the most leadoff homers in team history (17).
"I definitely thought it was a flyout because I know how I hit the ball and I've hit it harder before, so that wasn't necessarily the best I'd ever gotten it," Acuna said via team interpreter Franco Garcia. "I saw it carrying and carrying, so I started picking up the pace a bit and running harder."
The 22-year-old added a two-run homer in the fourth. It was his second multi-homer game this season, both of which came in doubleheaders. He also homered in Game 2.
"He's got a way of doing that," manager Brian Snitker said of Acuna's knack for producing in his returns. "Some of them are chosen, that's for sure."
Acuna has seven homers (10 hits), 10 RBIs and nine runs scored in six doubleheader games this season. The Braves are 5-1 in such games.
Game 1 was the first game Acuna has played since Sunday, when he left early because of hamstring tightness. Acuna was in his fifth game since returning from wrist inflammation that sidelined him for 11 games in August. He returned Aug. 26, homering off Gerrit Cole in his first at-bat and helping the Braves sweep the Yankees.
"It feels good to feel like yourself," Acuna said. "It's nice to have things go your way when you're feeling good and expecting them to. I'm just trying to do my best to contribute to the team winning. That's always my primary focus."
Even with the split, the defending-champion Nationals are closer to the No. 1 overall pick in the draft than a spot in the expanded postseason field. Washington is 13-24, having lost 10 of 12 games. It trails the Braves by 9 { games in the National League East.
