WEST SACRAMENTO — Did Ronald Acuña Jr. ’s two-homer game in a 9-2 win over the Athletics on Wednesday night enhance his excitement about participating in the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game in his home ballpark next week?

“I’m super excited,” Acuña said through interpreter Franco Garcia. “I can’t wait for those days to get here.”

Nor can the many baseball fans who grew concerned on Tuesday when Acuña was a late scratch because of lower back discomfort that developed as he was lifting weights. There was obvious reason to wonder if would be ready to experience the thrill of being the hometown hero while participating in All-Star Game festivities in Atlanta.

But Acuña awoke Wednesday without any discomfort and looked strong as can be when he began the game with a home run that easily cleared the left-field wall. Per Statcast, the monstrous shot had a 110 mph exit velocity, though the projected distance wasn’t available.

“That was a home run anywhere in America, at any time of day,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Acuña will continue to get daily treatment with the hope he will be ready to perform in Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby and when he serves as one of the National League’s starting outfielders on Tuesday night at Truist Park.

“I don’t feel anything,” Acuña said. “But you can never take anything for granted. It always helps to be cautious.”

Acuña’s 37th career leadoff homer sparked a four-run first and helped the Braves snap a five-game losing streak — and end an 0-13 skid in California dating back to last October’s Wild Card Series against the Padres.

His opposite-field two-out homer in the fourth gave the Braves reason to believe he has escaped the slump he battled the past couple weeks.

“Anytime you can get him 100 percent, you know something good is going to happen,” Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder said.

Entering the day, Atlanta had scored one run or fewer seven times while losing 10 of its past 12 games. Acuña hit .171 with no extra-base hits and a .481 OPS during this stretch that went back to June 25.

Acuña capped his 14th multihomer game and first since Sept. 19, 2023, by reaching a couple inches off the plate to connect with a Mitch Spence curveball that he sent into the right-field bullpen. The pitch was 1.19 feet from the center of the plate, tied for the farthest-outside pitch Acuña has homered on in his career. The previous came on July 4, 2021.

“Yeah. I mean, I think he was kind of looking for it,” Spence said. “He kind of stepped pretty far toward first base trying to hit that ball. … Sometimes, it’s just not your day.”

This was the latest example of Acuña’s ability to create big moments when all eyes are on him. He homered on the first pitch he had seen in 362 days when he returned from knee surgery with a May 23 homer against the Padres’ Nick Pivetta.

So, maybe it shouldn’t have been surprising to see Acuña hit a leadoff homer just 24 hours after tweaking his back.

Drake Baldwin capped the four-run first with a three-run homer and Austin Riley added to the Braves’ lead with a two-run homer in the second. Marcell Ozuna’s sixth-inning solo shot off Spence gave the Braves a season-high five home runs in the game.

Seeing Riley homer for the second time since June 20 and Ozuna for the first time since June 13 was encouraging for the Braves.

But knowing Acuña is healthy was the biggest relief for Braves fans and those looking forward to seeing him compete in All-Star Week festivities next week.

“It’s behind him now, hopefully,” Snitker said.