The Braves continue their habit of dropping the second game, losing their chances of an early series win.
Surprise, surprise…
The Atlanta Braves dropped game two to the Kansas City Royals.
After what seemed like a royal welcome for the Braves last night (see what I did there), taking the 10-7 win and drawing a franchise record-tying 14 bases-on-balls in a single game, there had to be a slim chance of seeing a continuation play out tonight…or maybe with the past few series’ history, not so much.
I won’t make you relive all of it, but let’s quickly recap an overall view of what happened to decipher what went wrong here besides the obvious.
The Royals kicked it off early in the bottom of the first with a homer from Vinnie Pasquantino to right field. After that…it was go-time as that was all the momentum the Royals needed to push them forward.
With the Royals leading by four runs through the sixth inning, the Braves did show a few signs of promise as the bats started regenerating, specifically, Austin Riley, as he homered to centerfield for the team’s first run of the night.
After a single from Michael Harris, Marcell Ozuna homered to bring him in, decreasing the Royals’ lead by one.
Answering back with a three-run double from Kyle Isbel, an RBI single from Bobby Witt Jr. and an RBI double from Pasquantino, the Royals were back alive in the sixth, leading 9-3.
But something else happened at this point.
Ronald Acuña Jr. attempted to go after a foul ball from Witt Jr. and had a noticeable limp while running. He was soon switched with Eli White and exited the game with what was announced to be right Achilles tightness.
OF Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from tonight’s game with right Achilles tightness.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 30, 2025
That was when everyone knew the game was over.
Or so we thought…
It was the top of the eighth that caused Braves fans to turn their televisions back on… things just got interesting after an RBI single from Matt Olson to bring Ozzie Albies in for a run, along with one from White to bring Jurickson Profar in, now trailing by three (9-6).
That, unfortunately, for the team was the last run they’d score for the night as the Royals held them there with a few defensive adjustments and substitutions that kept them solid.
And how did the new pitcher perform tonight?
Well, after giving up four runs in his 4.2 innings, it wasn’t pretty for a debut, but it also wasn’t the worst that’s been seen this season.
Could this get better with time and adjustment?
Or is this picking up where he left off at St. Louis? Regardless, Aaron Bummer came in to relieve him in the bottom of the fifth.
The last time the Braves played at Kauffman Stadium in 2023, they swept the series.
Looks like we won’t be seeing that outcome this season, but a series win isn’t out of the question as they look to take it tomorrow with reliever Joey Wentz on the mound.
One could always hope, especially Braves fans…but how long can that hope stay alive during this season?