Braves set NL standard with 29-run outburst

Atlanta breaks Modern Era record in National League (since 1900)

September 10th, 2020

ATLANTA -- produced his second three-homer game within an eight-day span to help the Braves roll to a record-setting 29-9 win over the Marlins on Wednesday night at Truist Park.

Duvall became the first player to record two three-homer games while wearing a Braves uniform, and his efforts helped Atlanta set a National League record for runs in a game in the modern era (since 1900).

“That was pretty amazing to be a part of,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “I’ve never seen an offense click like that.”

The Braves fell just one run short of tying the modern record for runs scored in a game, set when the Rangers defeated the Orioles, 30-3, in the first game of a doubleheader on Aug. 22, 2007, at Camden Yards.

Dating back to 1900, no NL club had scored more than 28 runs in a game. The Braves’ franchise record was 23, a mark tallied during the second game of a doubleheader against the Cubs on Sept. 2, 1957.

Ronald Acuña Jr. contributed to his three-hit night with a three-run home run to cap a six-run fifth. But it was his bases-loaded double in the sixth inning that gave the Braves a new franchise record for runs in a single game, opening a 25-8 lead.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Atlanta became the first MLB team to score at least 22 runs through the first five innings since the Blue Jays (24 runs) in a win over the Orioles on June 26, 1978.

“It’s one of those weird nights where you just get rolling,” manager Brian Snitker said.

Travis d’Arnaud, Duvall and Ozzie Albies all homered in the Braves' 11-run second inning, the first such inning in the Majors this year; the team also tallied 10 runs in the second inning of an Aug. 30 win in Philadelphia.

Adding to the significance of this eruption was the fact it prevented the Braves from being swept by the Marlins, who had claimed a shutout win on Tuesday. Snitker responded to his team being blanked by moving Freeman back to the second spot of the order on Tuesday.

“You never know what can happen when you juggle some pieces around,” Duvall said. “Baseball is a funny game. You can be off one night and the next night have the best night of your life. That is baseball.”

Here’s a breakdown of this record-setting performance that kept the Braves' lead in the National League East at two games over the Phillies:

• Duvall capped his memorable night with a seventh-inning grand slam. This three-homer game was produced exactly one week after he powered his first at Fenway Park. He now has eight home runs within his past 29 at-bats.

• According to STATS, Duvall is the first player in history to homer with one man on, two men on and the bases loaded, in that order, in a game. He is also just the second player in NL history to have two three-homer games within 10 days of each other, joining the Cardinals' Johnny Mize who accomplished the feat on July 13 and 20, 1938. Duvall is also the first player in the Majors to ever have two such games in the same September. His 13 home runs match Marcell Ozuna for the team lead.

• Freeman drove in a career-high six runs and reached the 1,500-hit milestone with a two-run homer in the third inning off Marlins reliever Jordan Yamamoto, who was charged with 13 runs over 2 2/3 innings.

• Albies accounted for another of Atlanta’s seven homers with a solo shot in the second inning. This was his first game played since being placed on the injured list with a right wrist bone bruise on Aug. 5.

• Wednesday night marked the fifth time in franchise history the Braves hit at least seven home runs in a game.

• The Braves have scored at least 10 runs in an inning in two of the three starts Tommy Milone has made since being acquired from the Orioles on Aug. 30. Milone lasted just 2 1/3 innings after being given a 10-0 second-inning lead in Philadelphia on the day of the trade. He was charged with eight runs over 3 1/3 innings on Wednesday.