Seth Lugo pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Bobby Witt Jr. hit safely for the third straight game to help the visiting Kansas City Royals defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Sunday and salvage a win in the three-game series.
The victory helped the Royals avoid their first sweep since June 24-26 against Tampa Bay.
Lugo (1-0) allowed five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three. Lucas Erceg pitched the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Witt was 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk, a run and an RBI, his first of the season. He hit .364 for the series, going 4-for-11. He turned a double play in the ninth inning to end the game.
The losing pitcher was Grant Holmes (0-1), who pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Rookie Didier Fuentes worked the final four innings and allowed one run on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
In the third inning, Kansas City’s Nick Loftin appeared to have grounded into a double play, but the play was challenged and reversed, allowing Loftin to remain on first base. He took third on a throwing error by Jorge Mateo and scored on a single by Witt. The Royals had been 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Kansas City added a solo homer from Carter Jensen in the fourth. It was Jensen’s first homer and settled in the first row of the seats in right field.
The Royals upped the lead to 3-0 with a run in the fifth. Vinnie Pasquantino singled home Nick Loftin, who opened the inning with a double.
Kansas City added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Witt led off with a walk and came around to score on Jensen’s sacrifice fly.
The Braves spoiled the shutout in the eighth inning as Drake Baldwin, who homered on opening night, drilled a solo shot off reliever John Schreiber.
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