Although Ronald Acuña did not start, he was asked to be ready to come in as a pinch hitter if necessary.
And that was all the Venezuelan needed to know.
A pinch-hit double by Acuña tied the game in the seventh. Then he scored the go-ahead run himself, on Ozzie Albies’ two-RBI double, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 6-4 on Friday night.
The Braves bounced back after blowing a three-run lead.
“You know me. I’m always ready to play,” said Acuña, who was not in the lineup for the third consecutive game due to a strained right quadriceps.
Miami led 4-3 before Venezuela’s Acuña tied the pinch-hit duel with his double down the left-field line off Anthony Bass (1-2). Matt Olson, who led off the seventh with a walk, scored from the first on a two-corner shot.
For the Marlins, Cuban Soler 2-0 with a run scored. The Dominicans Bryan de la Cruz 1-0, Jesús Sánchez 4-0. Venezuelans Jesús Aguilar 4-1 with a run scored and two RBIs, Miguel Rojas 2-0.
For the Braves, the Dominican Marcell Ozuna 4-0. Venezuelans William Contreras 3-1 with a run scored and an RBI, Acuña 1-1 with a run scored and an RBI.
Blue Jays 4 Anaheim 3
Alejandro Kirk scored on an error by right fielder Juan Lagares in the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied from behind to beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Friday.
Kirk led off the final inning with a single to center off Raisel Iglesias (1-3), who took the loss, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s line drive to right drove Kirk to third before scoring on a throwing error by Lagares.
Gurriel had three hits and drove in a run while Kirk had two hits for the Blue Jays, who have won seven of their last 10 games.
Trevor Richards (2-0) claimed the victory with a perfect eighth inning and Jordan Romano followed suit in the last for his 15th save.
For the Blue Jays, the Dominicans Santiago Espinal 3-0; Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 4-0; Teoscar Hernandez 4-1; Raimel Tapia 2-1. Mexican Alejandro Kirk 4-2, with two runs scored. Cuban Lourdes Gurriel 4-3, with an RBI.
For the Angels, the Venezuelan Luis Rengifo 4-1, with a run scored. Dominican Juan Lagares 3-0.