Marlins' Lopez, Mattingly ejected after pitch hits Acuna

The long-running feud between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. continued on Friday when starter Pablo Lopez drilled the young star with the first pitch he threw in the game.

Lopez was ejected following a conference between the umpires. The ejection didn't sit well with Marlins manager Don Mattingly, who was also tossed after letting the umpires know how he felt.

Acuna said postgame he's unsure if the Marlins hit him on purpose.

"I don't know, to be honest," he said after Atlanta's 1-0 win on Friday, according to The Athletic's David O'Brien. "Just because of how many times it's happened. But whether it was or whether it wasn't, it doesn't matter to me. My primary and only focus was that the team won."

Acuna, who entered Friday hitting .330/.426/.700 with 20 home runs and 49 RBIs over 51 games against the Marlins, has now been hit by a pitch from a Miami pitcher six times throughout his career.

The Braves slugger expressed his feelings on social media last October during the National League Division Series after the Marlins plunked him following his leadoff home run and bat-flip celebration.