Royals bounce back with 9-6 win over Braves

By MATT PIKE

The Kansas City Royals bounced back from a series opening loss to the Atlanta Braves, winning on Tuesday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium 9-6 and evening up the series, setting up a rubber match in Wednesday’s finale between the two. 

The Royals were powered to the victory taking the lead in the first inning, with two outs Vinnie Pasquantino powering his 18th home run of the season to right field to put Kansas City up 1-0 right away.   

The Royals extended that lead in the second inning, putting up three more runs on a two RBI double by Jonathan India, driving in Adam Frazier and Kyle Isbel, with India scoring on an RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr. 

In the sixth inning, the Braves got those three runs back, behind two home runs, a solo home run by Austin Riley first getting Atlanta on the scoreboard, before Marcell Ozuna’s two run home run that drove in Michael Harris II cut the Royals lead to one.  However, in the bottom half of the inning, Kansas City pulled away scoring five runs. 

A double by Isbel with the bases loaded cleared the bases, bringing home Frazier, Freddy Fermin, and Randal Grichuk.  Witt Jr singled later in the inning driving Isbel home, and after Witt Jr stole second base the shortstop scored on a double from Pasquantino for the final run of the inning, putting the Royals up 9-3 on the Braves. 

Atlanta scored one run in the seventh attempting their comeback, Ozuna singling to drive in Eli White.  In the eighth inning the Braves added two more runs, with Matt Olson scoring Ozzie Albies with an RBI single, moving Jurickson Profar to second base before Profar scored on a single by White.  Carlos Estévez came on in the ninth, giving up only a single on way to his 28th save of the season.  

Seth Lugo earned the win in his first start since his contract extension, improving to 8-5 on the season, pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and four walks.  At the plate, Pasquantino was 3-for-5 with the home run, a double and two RBIs.  Witt Jr was 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, and two RBIs.  

Kansas City and Atlanta wrap up their series tomorrow.  Angel Zerpa (3-1, 4.15 ERA) will start for the Royals against Joey Wentz (2-2, 5.76 ERA) for the Braves.  First pitch will be joined at 1:10 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM). 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.