Braves superstar Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. made a show-stopping defensive play on Friday \u2014 but that didn\u2019t stop the Yankees\u2019 broadcast team from calling out the Bronx Bombers\u2019 baserunning.<\/p>\n
In the top of the third inning, Acu\u00f1a caught a fly ball from Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger and nailed a Jorbit Vivas tagging from second to third base on a perfect, no-hop throw, preventing New York from putting runners on first and third with Aaron Judge up next to hit.<\/p>\n
It was a tough gaffe in New York\u2019s 7-3<\/a> loss in their first game back from the All-Star break.<\/p>\n Yankees announcers Michael Kay and Joe Girardi reacted to the play on YES Network<\/a>, citing the missed opportunity for the team, which couldn\u2019t manage to score in the inning after the double play.<\/p>\n New York Yankees second baseman Jorbit Vivas (90) is thrown out at third base after a fly ball caught by Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n \u201cThat can\u2019t happen. Those are little things that cost you a chance to have Aaron Judge hit with 1st and 3rd,\u201d Girardi, the former Yankees skipper, said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just took the bat out of Aaron Judge\u2019s hands,\u201d Kay said. \u201cFirst of all, you\u2019re not running hard to third, then you don\u2019t slide. As you said, perfect word, inexcusable.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cThe Yankees have to tighten up their baserunning. This has been going on for a month now,\u201d Kay added.<\/p>\n Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. is a five-time MLB All-Star. MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n Acu\u00f1a, who was named an All-Star for the fifth time in his career this week, is just two seasons removed from winning National League MVP for a Braves team that won 104 games in 2023.<\/p>\n The outfielder tore his ACL in May of the 2024 season and underwent season-ending surgery, returning to action on May 23 of this year \u2014 hitting a homer on the first pitch he saw<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year, he\u2019s attempting to return to form, so far at 12 home runs in 22 RBIs through just 45 games in the first half of this season.<\/p>\n Joe Girardi is introduced during the New York Yankees Old Timers\u2019 Day prior to the game against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on August 24, 2024, in New York, New York. Getty Images<\/p>\n Michael Kay at the 2023 Father Of The Year Awards held at The Sheraton New York Times Square on June 15, 2023 in New York, New York. WWD via Getty Images<\/p>\n So far, he has a 1.025 OPS and is among the league leaders in hitting with a .323 batting average on the year. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t