ATLANTA — Seth Lugo pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Carter Jensen homered to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.
Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. had RBI singles for the Royals, who scored one run apiece in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings as they avoided a season-opening sweep. Witt had five hits in the three-game series at Truist Park, where Atlanta won 6-0 on Friday and rallied from a 2-0 ninth-inning deficit to win 6-2 on Dominic Smith’s grand slam Saturday.
Jensen was 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the finale, adding a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to his solo home run in the fourth. Lugo (1-0) gave up five hits, struck out three batters and walked none while throwing 55 of his 77 pitches for strikes. He did survive three deep fly balls with exit velocities faster than 105 mph from Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II and Matt Olson that were caught up against the outfield wall.
Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin broke up Kansas City’s shutout bid when he hit a solo home run to right field in the eighth inning.
Lucas Erceg picked up the save for the Royals with a scoreless ninth.