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| Getty |
ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuña Jr. wasn't going to let Wednesday's game end without making even more MLB history.
His steal of second base in the 10th inning of a hard-fought matchup between the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs was Acuña's second of the night and 70th this season, making him the first player in MLB history to hit at least 40 home runs and steal 70 bases.
It came just moments before teammate Ozzie Albies drove him home for the winning run, setting off pandemonium at Truist Park as the Braves secured the No. 1 seed in the National League playoffs.
"Very happy, mostly that we were able to win," Acuña said through an interpreter after the 6-5 victory. "I'm extremely happy to have created the 40-70 club."
Acuña has 41 homers, extending a historic season that already saw him become the first 40-50 and 40-60 player. He is the second Braves player with 70 steals in a season since 1900, joining Otis Nixon in 1991 (72).
"It was one of those numbers that wasn't impossible but seemed impossible," Acuña said.
