Braves 11, Marlins 3: Acuña's Two Homers Cap an Eight-Game Streak

August 6, 2026 - Atlanta - Some home runs are pure. Some need help. Ronald Acuña Jr. got both kinds on Thursday, and the Braves kept rolling either way.

Acuña went deep twice, Matt Olson added another blast, and the Atlanta Braves finished a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins with an 11-3 win that stretched their season-best winning streak to eight.

The carom that became a homer

In the third, Acuña's drive off Janson Junk (5-7) turned into a circus. Marlins center fielder Esteury Ruiz and left fielder Heriberto Hernández collided near the wall, gloves overlapping, and the deflection carried over the fence. Acuña paused at first while neither outfielder realized the ball had left the yard. Eventually everyone caught up. Homers count the same whether they are clean or chaotic.

Olson's 32nd homer sparked a four-run sixth against John King. Acuña added his 11th of the year in the eighth. By then the only drama left was whether Atlanta would keep the line moving.

Dubón everywhere, Harris doubling, Pérez through the rain

Mauricio Dubón had four hits and two RBI in his first start of the season at second base while Ozzie Albies got a rare night off until entering as the DH in the sixth. Manager Walt Weiss said Albies did not want the rest. "After he crossed my name off his Christmas list, he was all right," Weiss joked.

Michael Harris II added three hits, including two doubles. Martín Pérez threw three no-hit innings with one walk before a rain delay of an hour and 24 minutes ended his night. Víctor Mederos (2-0) and four other relievers finished a seven-hit night for Miami. Atlanta's pitching has been the quiet partner of this eight-game run, and Thursday was no exception even after the weather cut Pérez short.

NL East gap grows

Atlanta (70-45) keeps widening the division race while Philadelphia and the rest of the East try to keep the wild-card math interesting. An eight-game streak with a sweep of a .500 Marlins club is the profile of a team playing October baseball in August.

Miami (58-58) dropped three straight in Atlanta and heads home needing cleaner outfield communication and better nights from the middle of the order. Colliding under a fly ball is one play. Getting outscored 11-3 is a full-game problem.

AthX Engine angle

Atlanta finished with 22 AthX Engine team fantasy points, third on the slate. Acuña led the club with 13 hitting FP. Olson added 12. Harris and Dubón both cleared 11. When four hitters land near the top of a daily board in the same game, the team score almost has to follow.

Track Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and the Braves boards on the marketplace. Information only; not financial advice.

What it means

Eight in a row does not guarantee anything in September. It does force the rest of the league to treat Atlanta as the standard in the NL East again. Miami will get healthier nights. It will need them soon if it wants to stay in the wild-card picture.

*Sources: MLB.com gameday final, ESPN recap, AthX Engine daily scoring for August 6, 2026. Information only; not financial advice.*