Hear how announcers from the Braves, Yankees and MLB Network reacted to an incredible throw from Ronald Acuña Jr. on Friday night. Photo Credit: FanDuel Sports Network South Photo Credit: FanDuel Sports Network South

Throws don’t get a whole lot better than the one Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. had in Friday night’s game against the New York Yankees. The different calls of the play perfectly reflect how special it was.

With runners at first and second and one out in the top of the third inning, New York’s Cody Bellinger hit a high fly ball to right field. Acuña caught the ball deep in the right field corner and fired back into the infield.

And while the basic rule of thumb in baseball is to never make the first or third out at third base, especially when trailing (as the Yankees were), Jorbit Vivas tagged up from second base. Given how deep the ball was in the corner, it didn’t seem like a particularly risky tag. Calling the game for the Braves on FanDuel Sports Network South, Brandon Gaudin didn’t seem to realize that there was a potential play on Vivas until third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. applied the tag.

“They got him,” Gaudin said. “Are you kidding me? A frozen rope. Vivas cannot believe it. Frenchie, I’m stunned.”

“When we come back, we’ll dig into this,” color analyst Jeff Francoeur said. “This was unbelievable.”

Matt Vasgersian and Tom Verducci were also calling the game on MLB Network’s national broadcast. They reacted with similar amazement, not even realizing that there was a potential play at third until the out was recorded.

“Vivas is doubled up,” an excited Vasgersian exclaimed. “Wow. What a throw. Come on. That ball was as deep into the corner as you can hit it.”

“Jaws are dropping on this throw,” Verducci added. “And Acuña deked him because he didn’t even get behind the ball. He caught it flat-footed and somehow threw an absolute rocket to third base.”

Naturally, Michael Kay and Joe Girardi, calling the game for the Yankees on YES, were less excited. While acknowledging the great throw from Acuña, they were more focused on the mistakes Vivas made on the play.

But Vivas didn’t run particularly hard and didn’t slide into third. Additionally, Acuña’s throw to third base was an absolute missile. Atlanta third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr. deked Vivas by not reacting as though a throw was incoming until the last second. When he did, he caught the ball and tagged Vivas, completing the double play.

“This is inexcusable,” Giradi said. “Very accurate throw from a very long distance. He has a great arm. And I know they went over that in the meeting. That can’t happen. Those are little things that cost you a chance to have Aaron Judge hit with 1st and 3rd.”

Indeed, New York was trailing 3-0 at the time of the play. With two runners on, Judge was set to come to the plate representing the tying run. Instead, the inning ended. Noting that, Kay echoed Girardi’s sentiments.

“You just took the bat out of Aaron Judge’s hands,” he said. “First of all, you’re not running hard to third, then you don’t slide. As you said, perfect word, it is ‘inexcusable.’ And you said this at the beginning of the game, that the Yankees have to tighten up their baserunning. This has been going on for about a month now.”

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