Acuña gives Philly fans curtain call after 3-run HR

PHILADELPHIA -- Ronald Acuna Jr. did a curtain call to irate Philadelphia Phillies fans after hitting a tying three-run homer and the Atlanta Braves used a late rally to defeat Philadelphia 5-4 on Sunday, extending their lead in the NL East to five games. Acuña hit a 100.5-mph fastball off Phillies reliever Alex McFarlane deep into the right field seats in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game 4-4. The fans at Citzens Bank Park showered Acuña with boos as he slowly rounded the bases. He later emerged out of the dugout for a curtain call, his right arm extended in the air in celebration. "I love the fans from Philly because they boo me," Acuña told reporters after the game, according to MLB.com. "So, that's motivation." It was home run No. 16 this season for Acuña. The homer was Acuña's 1,000th career hit, and he joined Hank Aaron as the only Braves player to have 1,000 hits, 200 homers and 200 stolen bases. In the ninth inning, Ozzie Albies legged out a double off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran (2-5) and Austin Riley followed with a triple off the centerfield fence, giving the Braves the lead. Philadelphia wasted a strong effort from starter Aaron Nola, who allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. Nola has gone eight consecutive starts allowing three runs or fewer, his longest such stretch of starts since 2019. In the seventh inning, Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-leading 42nd home run and pinch-hitter Derek Hill added a solo shot, his 10th of the season, for the Phillies.