Royals’ 2nd loss is walkoff punch in the gut. Here’s how it went down in Atlanta
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Wacha delivered six scoreless innings, allowing three hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.
- Perez ended 15-inning scoreless streak with 304th homer, 14 shy of Brett's record.
- Royals bullpen secured win as Strahm, Erceg and Estévez closed out eighth and ninth.
The Kansas City Royals were closing in on their first victory of the 2026 season.
Then, in the ninth inning, everything unraveled.
The Royals took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth and fell 6-2 against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday at Truist Park. Royals closer Carlos Estévez allowed six earned runs in one-third of an inning.
His command was erratic and then Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith hit a walkoff grand slam.
For the Royals, the loss undermined a stellar performance from starting pitcher Michael Wacha. The veteran right-hander pitched six scoreless innings.
The KC relief corps did its part after Wacha’s exit, until Estévez — who dealt with low velocity this spring — entered the game. He walked the Braves’ leadoff hitter, catcher Drake Baldwin.
The Braves loaded the bases with one away. Former Royal Mike Yastrzemski hit an RBI single, making it 2-1, and outfielder Michael Harris lined a ball off Estévez’s left ankle two batters later, driving in a run that tied it at 2.
The bases still loaded, Smith won it in the next at-bat.
“Just bad all around,” Estévez said of his performance. “I have to execute better, my pitches. Changeup was a little flat, slider was OK. Was basically all over the place.
“I’ve got to go back to what I am: a strike thrower. Get my strikes, get ahead. And make them swing to the pitches I want them to swing at, instead of swinging to the only thing I have today. Besides that, I’ve just got to learn to get out of the way so we can get a double play.”
Estévez said he had an X-ray on his left ankle, which took the line drive, and results were negative for damage. The Royals remain confident his velocity will return; on Saturday it was 90-92 mph.
“We’re still hopeful that it comes back,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “It was a little better today than it was at the end of spring training and in the exhibition games with the adrenaline going. But it’s certainly not where he’s accustomed to it (being), or where we are, either.”
Estévez was candid about his poor showing. He said he feels close to returning to form, but he’s still working with the coaching staff to fine-tune his mechanics and get back in sync.
“We’ve been doing a lot of dry work, watching video and stuff like that,” Estévez said. “But they’ve been there. They’ve been having my back and checking on what we can do to get there. It’s just a matter of time. I just got to keep doing what I’m doing to be able to get there.”
With Saturday’s loss, the Royals (0-2) dropped the series to the Braves. KC will look to salvage a victory on Sunday afternoon at Truist Park.
Before the ninth-inning meltdown, the Royals clawed to their first lead of the season. Wacha kept the Braves off the scoreboard while Salvador Perez provided the offense, hitting his first homer of the season and snapping a personal 15-inning scoreless streak.
But that was one of just five hits in the game for Kansas City. Jac Caglianone, who didn’t start on opening day, had two hits Saturday as the Royals’ starting right fielder.
“It was the first run we scored in two games,” Quatraro said. “So everyone was excited. Obviously, Salvy has done that a million times and that was big for us.”
Royals right-hander Seth Lugo is scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale opposite Braves right-hander Grant Holmes. First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m. Central Time.
Royals catch break in 4th inning
Wacha flirted with early trouble against the Braves. In the fourth inning, he allowed a leadoff single to Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr.
He followed by inducing a double-play grounder from Baldwin … or so it seemed. Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia fielded the ball and stepped on second base bag before throwing.
Confusion ensued among the umpires. And second-base ump Emil Jimenez missed the call. He asked for help, and it was determined that the double play would stand.
Braves manager Walt Weiss came out of the home dugout for an explanation. The officials talked it over and the play was not reviewed because the Braves missed the window for a manager appeal.
Wacha dodged further trouble by striking out Braves first baseman Matt Olson. The inning ended and the game remained scoreless.
This story was originally published March 28, 2026 at 9:11 PM.
