Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II each hit home runs in the sixth inning as the Atlanta Braves picked up an 11-5 win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on April 10.
Atlanta sent 10 batters to the plate, pounded out seven hits and scored six runs in the decisive sixth inning.
Acuna's first home run of the season came on a hanging curve ball and tied the score 2-2. Drake Baldwin singled to center before Olson launched a 3-0 pitch to right field for a two-run homer that put the Braves up 4-2.
Apr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesApr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesFans take pictures outside before the start of the home opener Cleveland Guardians game the against Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Fans mingle outside before the start of the home opener Cleveland Guardians game against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Graham Veysey and his daughter, Red Clark Veysey, 5, spend their fifth opening day together before the opening Guardians home game against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
1 / 6Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photosApr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images1 / 6Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photosApr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images2 / 6Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photosApr 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Cade Horton (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images3 / 6Guardians vs. Cubs, Cleveland home opener photosFans take pictures outside before the start of the home opener Cleveland Guardians game the against Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Fans mingle outside before the start of the home opener Cleveland Guardians game against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Graham Veysey and his daughter, Red Clark Veysey, 5, spend their fifth opening day together before the opening Guardians home game against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Austin Riley singled to left field and scored on Dominic Smith's RBI single for a 5-2 lead. Harris' two-run shot scored Smith as the Braves opened up a 7-2 lead.
Ozzie Albies and Smith notched two-out RBI singles in the seventh and Atlanta led 9-2.
The Guardians loaded the bases in the eighth and Rhys Hoskins hit single to score Chase DeLauter. Angel Martinez's RBI bloop single drove in Juan Brito and Hoskins as Cleveland cut its deficit to 9-5.
An RBI double by Baldwin gave the Braves a 10-5 lead in the bottom of the inning. He scored on an error two hitters later as Atlanta closed out the scoring.
Cleveland starting pitcher Slade Cecconi (0-2) took the loss. He pitched 5⅓ innings, yielding seven hits, five runs (four earned), one walk and striking out three. Reliever Tyler Kinley (2-0) picked up the win with a scoreless sixth inning. Starter Bryce Elder lasted 4⅔ innings, allowing five hits, two runs and three walks with three strikeouts.
Acuna's broken-bat RBI single up the middle snuck past a drawn-in infield and plated Smith as Atlanta seized a 1-0 lead in the third inning.
Kyle Manzardo's solo home run tied the score 1-1 in the fourth inning.
In the fifth, Martinez followed up an opposite field single with a steal of second base. Steven Kwan also lined an opposite field single to left and Martinez scored on an error by Braves left fielder Mike Yastrzemski as the Guardians took a 2-1 lead.
Kwan and Martinez each went 2-for-4 for the Guardians.
Atlanta pounded out 15 hits, led by a 3-for-4 effort by Smith. He scored twice, drove in two runs and raised his batting average to .357. All nine Braves either scored or drove in at least one run.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kyle Manzardo hits first home run, but Guardians can't hold 2-1 lead