Travis d’Arnaud’s walk-off home run in the ninth inning secured a 2-1 victory for the Atlanta Braves over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. The win moved the Braves closer to securing a playoff spot in the National League.
Reynaldo López returned from injury and pitched a strong six innings for the Braves. D’Arnaud’s home run off Sam Long in the ninth inning proved to be the decisive hit. Raisel Iglesias earned the win for the Braves.
The Royals took an early lead in the third inning but were unable to maintain their advantage. Jorge Soler’s double in the fourth inning tied the game.
The Royals entered the game with a makeshift lineup due to rest and injury considerations. Bobby Witt Jr., who had started 160 consecutive games, sat out the game. His absence allowed him to potentially clinch the AL batting title.
Seth Lugo pitched two scoreless innings for the Royals, preserving their chances for a strong finish. The Braves are strategically managing their pitching staff, including holding back ace Chris Sale for potential use in the upcoming doubleheader against the Mets.
The Royals, having clinched their first postseason appearance since 2015, are focused on preparing for the Wild Card Series. Their pitching plans for the series finale against the Braves have not been announced.
The Kansas City Royals will play their final regular season game on Sunday at 2:20 PM.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves will face a doubleheader against the New York Mets on Monday to conclude their regular season. The Braves are still vying for a National League wild-card spot.
Pregame coverage for the Royals’ game begins at 1:30 PM on SuperStar Country 102.5 & 1530 AM.
