The Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Miami Marlins just don’t mix, and Wednesday afternoon in Miami only added more fuel to that fire.
In the third inning, right after Matt Olson launched a two-run homer to put Atlanta ahead, Marlins right-hander Ryan Gusto drilled Acuña on the first pitch of his at-bat.
The ball smacked his right elbow guard, and the former MVP was not happy. He glared at Gusto, exchanged words, and had to be calmed by catcher Liam Hicks and Braves first base coach Tom Goodwin as he made his way down the line.
Tempers Flare, Snitker Tossed
The situation escalated quickly. The benches cleared — though it was mostly posturing and chatter, no punches — before the umpires huddled and issued warnings to both teams. That didn’t sit well with Braves manager Brian Snitker, who argued that the warnings effectively took away Atlanta’s chance to respond. His protest got him tossed from the game.
As Braves broadcaster pointed out, the warning also put starter Joey Wentz in a tough spot. Any inside pitch that got away could be judged as intentional, potentially leading to an automatic ejection — exactly the kind of handcuff managers hate.
Given Acuña’s history against Miami, it’s no surprise he was steamed. The Marlins have plunked him more than a few times over the years, and even if Gusto’s pitch looked unintentional, it still adds to the frustration.
Braves Get the Last Laugh
In the end, though, the Braves did their talking with the bats. They lit up Gusto for nine earned runs on seven hits, including three home runs, before knocking him out in the fourth inning. By the time he left, Atlanta had built a commanding 9-0 lead, all but securing the series win and sending a message on the scoreboard instead of with retaliation.
Wednesday marked the final matchup of the year between the Braves and Marlins, and with Atlanta already having clinched the season series, the hit-by-pitch may linger as a storyline into 2026. For now, though, Acuña and the Braves walk away with the upper hand — scoreboard and season bragging rights firmly in their corner.
