Hot-hitting Ronald Acuna lifts Braves over Cardinals

Ronald Acuna Jr. went 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs as the Atlanta Braves posted a 5-0 victory over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday at Kissimmee, Fla.

The reigning National League Rookie of the Year had an opposite-field double in the second inning and a run-scoring single in the sixth in addition to the fourth-inning liner over the left-field fence off Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas.

“I felt good from the start of camp,” Acuna told reporters through an interpreter after a contest in which he raised his spring average to .360. “But as the games have progressed, I have definitely felt even better.

“I think with those last at-bats, I’ve had a little extra patience. Initially, I think I was still having good at-bats. I just wasn’t getting results. Things are progressing quickly and we’re starting to see the results now.”