By MATT PIKE
Despite a reported lack in velocity, the Kansas City Royals turned to Carlos Estévez in the ninth inning, and fell to the Atlanta Braves on a walk off grand slam as their closer gave up six runs in the inning, falling 6-2 at Trusit Park.
Prior to the ninth, the game was in total control for the Royals. Michael Wacha on the mound gave up just three hits and one walk over six innings, striking out seven batters, and Kansas City took the lead first in the seventh inning as Salvador Perez lasered a home run 390 feet into left center field to take the lead in the game. The Royals extended their lead in the eighth inning when Maikel Garcia walked, and advanced to third on a single from Bobby Witt Jr. After Witt Jr stole second base, Vinnie Pasquantino reached first on a fielding error by Matt Olson for the 2-0 lead.
Matt Strahm and Lucas Erceg combined to throw two scoreless innings of relief through the seventh and eighth innings, giving up two total hits, with a strikeout from Strahm and a walk by Erceg, before turning the ball over to Estévez in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was widely reported coming out of Spring Training, Estévez did not seem ready, posting significantly slower fastball velocities than he averaged during the previous regular season.
Things didn't start off great for Estévez, walking Drake Baldwin and giving up a single to Olson that allowed Baldwin to move to third. Austin Riley popped out for the first out of the inning, but the lead was cut to one promptly after that when former Royal Mike Yastrzemski singled to score Baldwin, and replace him with pinch runner Jorge Mateo at third. Eli White pinch ran for Yastrzemski, and after Estévez walked Ozzie Albies to load the bases, Michael Harris II singled to tie the game driving in Mateo.
With the bases loaded facing Dominic Smith, Estévez worked the count full before Smith got ahold of a 92 mile per hour fastball high in the zone, sending the ball to right center field and sparking the celebration as the Braves celebrated remaining undefeated to start the season. Prior to the grand slam, Royals pitchers had held Smith hitless, Atlanta's designated hitter going 0-for-3 with a strikeout, finishing 1-for-4 with four RBI's.
Estévez took the loss, giving up four hits, six runs, and walking two in 0.1 innings. At the plate, Jac Caglianone led the way going 2-for-3. Perez was 1-for-4 with the home run and an RBI.
Kansas City and Atlanta wrap up their series on Sunday. Seth Lugo will make his season debut for the Royals against Grant Holmes for the Braves. First pitch is at 1:35pm, pregame will air at noon on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.