ATLANTA — Seth Lugo pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Carter Jensen homered to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.
Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. had RBI singles for the Royals, who scored one run apiece in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings as they avoided a season-opening sweep. Witt had five hits in the three-game series at Truist Park, where Atlanta won 6-0 on Friday and rallied from a 2-0 ninth-inning deficit to win 6-2 on Dominic Smith’s grand slam Saturday.
Jensen was 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the finale, adding a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to his solo home run in the fourth. Lugo (1-0) gave up five hits, struck out three batters and walked none while throwing 55 of his 77 pitches for strikes. He did survive three deep fly balls with exit velocities faster than 105 mph from Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II and Matt Olson that were caught up against the outfield wall.
Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin broke up Kansas City’s shutout bid when he hit a solo home run to right field in the eighth inning.
Lucas Erceg picked up the save for the Royals with a scoreless ninth.
The team’s regular closer, Carlos Estévez, was hit in the ankle during Saturday night’s blown save and was in a walking boot Sunday morning. X-rays were negative, although Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said it was the ankle that would keep Estévez out Sunday — not his shaky performances during spring training or because he surrendered six runs in 1/3 of an inning Saturday.
Atlanta starter Grant Holmes (0-1) gave up three runs in five innings with two walks and four strikeouts Sunday. Didier Fuentes — a 20-year-old rookie who made his MLB debut last year (and three other starts before being sent back down to the minors) and could move to the Atlanta rotation — gave up one run in four innings in relief.
The Braves, who are playing 13 straight contests before getting their first off day of the regular season, will begin the second half of their opening homestand when they host the Athletics (0-3) in the opener to a three-game series at 7:15 p.m. Monday. The scheduled starting pitchers are right-handers Bryce Elder (8-11, 5.30 ERA in 2025) for the Braves and Aaron Civale (4-9, 4.85) for the A’s.
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