ATLANTA, Ga. (WALB) – The Braves fell to the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Sunday but won the first series of the season.
Bobby Witt Jr. started the scoring in the third inning with a single that brought in Nick Loftin.
In the top of the fourth, Carter Jensen hit his first home run of the season on a 3-1 count. The Royals led 2-0.
In the fifth, Vinny Pasquantino singled to bring home Loftin after Ozzie Albies could not make a diving catch. Kansas City led 3-0.
In the eighth inning, the Royals had runners on the corners with one out when Jensen hit a pop up that scored one run. Kansas City led 4-0.
In the bottom of the eighth, catcher Drake Baldwin hit a home run on a full count, his second of the year.
Starting pitcher Grant Holmes gave the Braves five innings, striking out four but allowing three earned runs. He said he was pleased with the team’s start to the season.
“It’s awesome you know, to win a series. First one of the year, it’s big time, especially last night. That game was unreal. It’s big for the guys. If we can win every series, we’ll put ourselves in a good spot,” Holmes said.
Reliever Didier Fuentes allowed two hits, one earned run and struck out four.
Manager Walt Weiss said the offense will continue to produce.
“It’s a good vibe I think it’s gonna continue to be that way. We got a good group and we had a tough time scoring the last couple nights with the exception of the night last night but our offense is good. I feel good about this club, I’ve said that all spring,” Weiss said.
Weiss said he was pleased the bullpen could rest before a lengthy stretch of games.
“It was nice to give those guys a reboot in the pen and get Fuentes stretched out at the same time. He’s a little closer to being fully stretched out as a starter,” Weiss said.
The Braves host the Athletics on Monday to start a three-game series. First pitch is at 7:15 p.m.
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