In a remarkable display of talent and athleticism, Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves etched his name in Major League Baseball history by becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone of 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases. This historic achievement came during the Braves' commanding 9-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at Nationals Park.
Acuña's journey to this impressive feat was highlighted by a three-run homer in the seventh inning, marking his 14th home run of the season. He accomplished this milestone in just 904 games, breaking the previous record held by Alfonso Soriano, who reached the 200/200 club in 929 games back in August 2006 while playing for the Nationals against the Braves.
The game itself was not without its interruptions, as a rain delay of one hour and 25 minutes occurred in the fourth inning. Prior to the delay, Acuña had already made his mark by leading off with a single against Nationals starter Brad Lord. Following a walk and an error that loaded the bases, the rain halted play, but when it resumed, the Nationals managed to escape the jam without conceding any runs.
Sean Murphy also contributed significantly to the Braves' offense, hitting a three-run homer in the sixth inning that broke a scoreless tie. This was Murphy's third home run in just five games, showcasing his own recent power surge. After Murphy's blast, Acuña followed up with his historic homer, further extending the Braves' lead to 6-0.
In addition to his home run, Acuña also stole his 225th career base and 20th of the season, swiping second base after his leadoff single in the sixth inning. This combination of power and speed has made Acuña one of the most exciting players to watch in the league.
On the mound, the Braves' pitching staff was equally impressive. Grant Holmes retired the first nine Nationals batters he faced, needing only 26 pitches to do so before the rain delay. Dylan Dodd contributed a scoreless inning, and Elieser Hernández (2-0) pitched three innings, allowing only two hits, including the Nationals' first hit of the game, a two-out single by James Wood in the sixth inning.
The Nationals faced a setback when catcher Keibert Ruiz had to leave the game in the fourth inning after being struck by a foul ball to his mask. This added to the challenges faced by the Nationals as they struggled to find their footing against a dominant Braves team.
Looking ahead, the Braves are set to start left-handed pitcher Chris Sale (13-9, 2.06 ERA) in their upcoming series against the Philadelphia Phillies, while the Nationals will begin a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both teams will be eager to build momentum as the season progresses, but Acuña's historic night will undoubtedly be a highlight of the Braves' campaign.
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