{"id":809452,"date":"2026-09-20T02:36:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T02:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/809452\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T02:36:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T02:36:29","slug":"acuna-grand-slam-leads-braves-to-6-3-win-dropping-astros-from-al-west-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/809452\/","title":{"rendered":"Acu\u00f1a grand slam leads Braves to 6-3 win, dropping Astros from AL West lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON (AP) \u2014 Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat Houston 6-3 Saturday night to drop the Astros out of the AL West lead.<\/p>\n

Houston (77-78) fell one game behind Texas (78-77) and trails the Chicago White Sox (79-76) by two games for the last AL wild card. The Astros had held at least a share of the division lead each day since Aug. 25.<\/p>\n

Click to Gallery<\/p>\n

\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve singles on a bunt during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Mike Yastrzemski celebrates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II, left, right fielder Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr., center, and left fielder Mike Yastrzemski celebrate after winning a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. hits a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Atlanta assured its eighth playoff berth in nine seasons on Friday and is in position to clinch its first NL East title since 2023 on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Trailing 2-1, Atlanta loaded the bases against AJ Blubaugh (5-3) and Acu\u00f1a homered off Bryan Abreu for his second grand slam this season and the fifth of his big league career.<\/p>\n

Acu\u00f1a singled and walked twice in his first three plate appearances. He has homered in three of his last four games.<\/p>\n

Mike Yastrzemski added a solo homer in the eighth inning.<\/p>\n

Grant Holmes (10-5) allowed two runs and eight hits over six innings.<\/p>\n

Yainer Diaz hit an RBI double in the eighth off Dylan Lee, who struck out pinch-hitter Nelson Vel\u00e1zquez to end the inning.<\/p>\n

Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 34th save in 37 chances.<\/p>\n

Jose Altuve had three hits for Houston, while Isaac Paredes was 2 for 3 with a home run, walk and two RBIs.<\/p>\n

Christian Walker had two hits after entering the game hitless in his previous 23 at-bats.<\/p>\n

Hayden Wesneski allowed one run on four hits over 5 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (6-3, 3.43 ERA) and Braves LHP Mart\u00edn P\u00e9rez (9-9, 3.07 ERA) start Sunday.<\/p>\n

See AP\u2019s full MLB coverage here<\/p>\n


\n \"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve singles on a bunt during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Mike Yastrzemski celebrates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II, left, right fielder Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr., center, and left fielder Mike Yastrzemski celebrate after winning a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. hits a grand slam during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 Sean Burke pitched six effective innings, Miguel Vargas homered and the Chicago White Sox topped the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday for a sorely needed victory.<\/p>\n

Chicago dropped into second in the AL Central after it blew a six-run lead in an 11-8 loss to Detroit on Friday night. It remained one game back of division-leading Cleveland, which beat the Athletics 12-6 on Saturday night, but it improved its lead for the third AL wild card to two games over Houston.<\/p>\n

The White Sox (79-76) dropped at least 101 games in each of the last three years. They could become the first big league team to make the playoffs after finishing with at least 100 losses in each of the previous two seasons.<\/p>\n

Burke (10-7) allowed one run and five hits in his second straight win. Grant Taylor got four outs for his 10th save.<\/p>\n

Detroit (73-82) left 11 runners on base in its third loss in four games. Jackson Jobe (2-3) struck out nine while surrendering three runs in six innings.<\/p>\n

Trailing 2-1, the Tigers loaded the bases with two down in the sixth. Riley Greene scampered home on a wild pitch to Brett Callahan but video review determined the ball hit Callahan after he swung and missed, and Greene was sent back to third.<\/p>\n

Callahan then struck out looking, ending the inning, and Vargas led off the bottom half with a 390-foot drive to left-center for his 33rd homer.<\/p>\n

Taylor replaced Noah Schultz with two on in the eighth. The right-hander retired pinch-hitter Eduardo Valencia on a bouncer to first, ending the inning.<\/p>\n

The start time was moved to the afternoon because of thunderstorms forecasted for Saturday night.<\/p>\n

Chicago played without outfielder Tristan Peters, who was sore a day after crashing into the wall in right-center while trying to make a play on Kevin McGonigle\u2019s triple in the fifth inning.<\/p>\n

Troy Melton (8-4, 2.52 ERA) starts for Detroit on Sunday, and fellow right-hander Davis Martin (9-7, 3.96 ERA) pitches for Chicago in the finale of the four-game series.<\/p>\n

See AP\u2019s full MLB coverage here<\/p>\n


\n \"Detroit<\/p>\n

Detroit Tigers’ Ben Malgeri (53) slides safely into home plate on a Kevin McGonigle sacrifice fly as Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, left, waits for the throw during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Paul Beaty)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Chicago<\/p>\n

Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami watches his RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Paul Beaty)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Detroit<\/p>\n

Detroit Tigers starter Jackson Jobe delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Paul Beaty)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Chicago<\/p>\n

Chicago White Sox’s Miguel Vargas celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring on a Munetaka Murakami single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Paul Beaty)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Chicago<\/p>\n

Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Paul Beaty)<\/p>\n

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