Braves star Ronald Acuña. (Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports)
Miami Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez was ejected after hitting Atlanta Braves leadoff batter Ronald Acuña with his first pitch of the game.
It took precisely one pitch for the Marlins to get a piece of Ronald Acuña in their series against the Braves.
Pitcher Pablo Lopez went inside on Acuña and beaned him in the side.
Since this is the latest in a series of HBPs involving Acuña and the Marlins over the years, Lopez was ejected. Whether or not the hit was intentional, the umpires clearly wanted to keep things from getting out of control.
Miami manager Don Mattingly was also ejected for complaining to the umpires about their decision to toss his pitcher after one pitch.
Miami Marlins have a bad habit of hitting Braves’ Ronald Acuña
Since 2018, Miami has made a habit of throwing at the Braves’ star. Jose Urena got it started by hitting him after he hit a home run and flipped his bat.
Acuña and the Marlins got into it in the 2020 playoffs as well. Sandy Alcantara hit Acuña after a home run and the two exchanged fighting words in the press.
This is the fifth time Acuña has been hit by a Miami pitcher in 52 career games against the team. It’s also the first time a pitcher has been ejected for doing it. No other team has plonked him more. The Red Sox have done it three times in 12 meetings.
Acuña generally gets the better of the Marlins. He has batted .330/.426/.700 against the team in his four seasons in the majors. All three of those marks are his best against an opposing team he’s faced more than three times.
The three-game series between the Marlins and Braves should be extra interesting in light of the drama.