The Atlanta Braves claimed three home runs and 14 walks off Kansas City pitchers, but it was a bases-clearing double in the eighth that was ultimately the difference-maker in Monday night’s 10-7 Royals loss at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals got on the board in the first with a Maikel Garcia double and Salvador Perez single. The lead would evaporate in the heat in the third inning, when Ronald Acuña Jr sent a two-run blast over the fountains in left-center field. The next inning saw starting pitcher Rich Hill give up another two-run shot to left-center, this time to Marcell Ozuna. Austin Riley added a solo shot in the top of the seventh that took a swim past right-center field. The Royals would pull a run back in the bottom half of the inning when Vinnie Pasquantino sent a line drive to right field, scoring Bobby Witt Jr.
The game would get out of hand for the Royals in the eighth, when Matt Olson collected an RBI double. After an intentional walk to Steven Cruz to load the bases, Riley would net three RBIs with his one-out double. Randal Grichuk connected on his first home run for the Royals in the home half of the eighth, only for Jurickson Profar to add an insurance single in the top of the ninth.
The insurance might have been needed by Atlanta, as a double and two walks loaded the bases for Freddy Fermin, who singled in a pair of runs to create a save situation. Raisel Iglesias would concede a sacrifice fly to Adam Frazier, but then get a lineout and flyout to snuff out the late Royals comeback attempt and claim his 12th save of the year.
Spencer Strider picked up the win, going five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out three. Rich Hill took his second loss in as many starts, gifting six walks along with four runs and three hits, also striking out three. Steven Cruz allowed all four runs in the eighth, giving up three hits and four walks.
The Royals are now 52-55, 4.5 games behind Boston for the third wild card spot and 9.5 games behind Detroit in the AL Central. Fresh off signing a contract extension, Seth Lugo will get the start for Kansas City, going up against Erich Fedde, who just made the drive down I-70 after the Braves picked him up from the Cardinals. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m., with pregame at 6 p.m. on KMMO-FM 102.9.