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Keith Hernandez supports drilling Acuna: 'You've got to hit him'

Daniel Shirey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Jose Urena earned a notable ally after throwing at Atlanta Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. with his first pitch on Wednesday.

Keith Hernandez, who played 17 years in Major League Baseball and currently does color commentary for New York Mets games on SportsNet New York, supported the Miami Marlins' decision to plunk Acuna.

"They're killing you, you've lost three games," Hernandez began during the Mets broadcast of Wednesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. "He's hit three home runs. You've got to hit him. I'm sorry, I mean, people are not going to like that, but, you know, you've got to hit him and knock him down. I mean seriously knock him down if you don't hit him. Never throw at anybody's head or neck. You hit him in the back, you hit him in the fanny."

Acuna entered Wednesday's game riding a remarkable hot streak during which he had hit a homer in five straight games, including three straight leadoff bombs to begin each of the first three games against the Marlins.

With Urena's first pitch of the game, the right-hander hit Acuna with a 97-mph fastball on the left elbow, sparking a benches-clearing brawl that got the starter, and Braves manager Brian Snitker, ejected.

After Acuna ran for himself to finish the bottom of the first, Adam Duvall replaced the 20-year-old phenom in left field for the top of the second. X-rays came back negative and CT scans will be announced on Thursday.

The Braves went on to complete the four-game sweep in spite of losing Acuna early in the contest. Heading into Wednesday's tilt, Acuna was 8-for-13 in the series with four homers and two walks.

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