WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two home runs, including a towering blast to lead off the game, as the Atlanta Braves hit a season-high five homers in a dominant 9-2 victory over the Athletics.

The win ended a challenging streak for the Braves, who had lost 13 consecutive games played in the state of California.

Acuña's leadoff shot to left field was his 14th career multi-homer performance. He added his second solo homer in the fourth inning, driving a pitch outside the strike zone to right field.

Complementing Acuña's power display, Drake Baldwin hit a three-run homer, Austin Riley contributed a two-run shot, and Marcell Ozuna added a solo home run. All five Braves home runs came off Athletics starter Mitch Spence, who allowed nine hits and eight runs over six innings.

Braves right-hander Bryce Elder earned his first victory since May 4, improving his record to 3-6. Elder allowed eight hits and two earned runs while striking out seven batters over 6 2/3 innings. He had gone 0-5 with a 6.59 ERA in his previous eight starts.

Key Moment

Drake Baldwin's three-run, 431-foot homer to right-center field in the first inning immediately gave the Braves a substantial 4-0 lead, setting the tone for the game.

Key Stat

The victory marked the Braves' first win in California since August 18 of last year. They had been 0-11 in the state this season prior to this game, making the end of their 13-game skid in California a significant achievement.

Up Next

The Atlanta Braves and Athletics will conclude their three-game series on Thursday. Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Braves, facing Athletics LHP JP Sears (7-7, 4.76). The teams have split the first two games of the series.

In summary

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Athletics 9-2 on July 9, 2025, highlighted by Ronald Acuña Jr.'s two home runs and a season-high five total homers for the team. Bryce Elder earned the win as the Braves pitching kept the Athletics in check. The victory was notable for ending the Braves' 13-game losing streak in the state of California, improving their record in the current series ahead of the rubber match on Thursday.