After the Atlanta Braves split four games with the Nationals, the Royals rolled into town. In an overall uninspiring effort, the Braves dropped two games and as a result, lead the Nats by just four games in the NL East.
Kansas City, if not anything else, proved to be a pesky team for the Atlanta Braves over a two game set. They came and left with a couple of positive statistical feats – the most stolen bases in the American League and the highest fielding percentage.
Despite having the worst road record in the major leagues, they were able to complete a two game sweep of the Atlanta Braves and have won 9 of their 12 games after the All-Star break. An outstanding pitching performance on Wednesday night did the Braves in.
Royals starter Brad Keller, a Georgia boy that hails from Flowery Branch, certainly had his day against his hometown Atlanta Braves. According to the Fox Sports South broadcast, he had around 100 friends and family members on hand.
Keller was a ground ball machine, allowing four hits, issuing one free pass (not counting the ones he bought for his relatives) and striking out three batters. At the plate, he reached base twice. Once during an RBI single in the second, and then via a base on balls from Julio Teheran.
The second inning is when things went wrong for the Atlanta Braves. Teheran issued a lead-off walk to Jorge Soler, striking out Nicaragua native Cheslor Cuthbert and allowing a ground rule double to Bubba Starling.
Josh Donaldson did what Atlanta Braves fans are accustomed to and made a great play, fielding a Nicky Lopez ground ball and tagging out Soler who had wandered too far off third base.
With two outs, it appeared as if Teheran would be out of the situation without any damage, but a ground ball off the bat of catcher Meibrys Viloria hit off Freddie Freeman’s glove and a rare error allowed the first run to score.
Keller, the pitcher stepped to the plate and delivered a RBI single. Teheran then caught perhaps the Royals best overall player, Whit Merrifield, looking at strike three. Baseball is a weird sport.
All Quiet on the basepaths
The game was rather quiet from that point on both sides of the field. Donaldson made another dazzling defensive play, catching a line drive off the bat of Soler, and throwing out Hunter Dozier attempting to return to first base from a knee.
All in all, Julio Teheran turned in a great start. He allowed two unearned runs, scattered four hits, walked two and struck out six over six innings. It was the second quality start wasted in this series, as Dallas Keuchel struck out 12 over six innings on Tuesday, giving up two runs.
Sean Newcomb and Luke Jackson did their part out of the bullpen, holding the game at 2-0, but a punchless offense couldn’t get anything going in a positive direction for the Atlanta Braves.
The Atlanta Braves were without Dansby Swanson tonight, who is nursing a sore heel. It’s not a serious injury, and the rest is a precaution. Johan Camargo started at shortstop went 0-3.
Ender Inciarte started in place of Austin Riley and was hitless as well, but did make a great catch in centerfield. Riley pinch hit in the 8th inning, striking out. Inciarte gave way to Charlie Culberson in the eighth and Culby singled in his only plate appearance.