Marlins' Urena ejected after hitting Braves' Acuna with first pitch

Miami Marlins right-hander Jose Urena was ejected after his first pitch in Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves hit Ronald Acuna Jr., causing benches to clear in the bottom of the first inning.

Urena threw a 97 mph fastball -- the fastest pitch he's ever thrown to open a game, per ESPN Stats & Info -- down the middle of the right-handed batter's box. Acuna turned his back and braced for contact as the pitch approached, and he was hit in the left elbow.

Acuna started to walk it off in foul territory before tossing his helmet on the ground and crouching in pain. Braves manager Brian Snitker and several players then emerged from the dugout, causing both benches to clear. Snitker had to be held back while yelling at Urena, who eventually was ejected.

Acuna received attention from trainers during the fracas and returned from the dugout to take first base when play resumed several minutes later, but he was removed and replaced by Adam Duvall after the first inning.

Right-hander Elieser Hernandez took over on the mound for Urena.

Acuna, a 20-year-old rookie phenom, entered Wednesday having homered in five consecutive games -- the youngest ever to do so -- including a pair of homers Tuesday in Atlanta's 10-6 win over Miami. It was the third consecutive game in which Acuna homered to lead off the game, and the second time in three games he did so on the first pitch he saw.

He was 8-for-13 with four homers, nine RBIs and two walks in the first three games of the series -- all Braves victories -- entering Wednesday's finale.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)