KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mixed martial artist Max Holloway visited the Royals’ clubhouse ahead of Sunday’s game against Atlanta, shaking hands with players a day after his win at UFC Kansas City.
“Did you see his face?” one Royals player said after Holloway passed. “Makes me wonder what the other guy looks like.”
The Royals showed some fight of their own Sunday, rallying from a three-run deficit before falling 5-4 to the Braves at Kauffman Stadium as Atlanta finished a three-game sweep.
The Royals trailed 4-1 after five innings but pushed a run across in the sixth and pulled even when Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run homer into the right-field seats inside the foul pole.
Atlanta broke that tie against Royals closer Scott Barlow in the ninth inning.
Ozzie Albies hit a one-out double off the right-center field wall despite a valiant effort by Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel. Vaughn Grissom followed with a single to right that scored Albies and made it 5-4.
The Royals’ record dropped to 4-12. They are 1-9 at Kauffman Stadium this season and have been swept in two series (Twins and Braves).
Key moment
After falling behind 3-0, the Royals struck back for a run in the bottom of the third inning. But, in what has been a theme of the young season, they had a chance for much more.
The bases were loaded thanks to a two hits and an error by Atlanta starter Kyle Wright when Royals shortstop Bobby Witt followed by hitting into a double play.
After a walks to MJ Melendez and Vinnie Pasquantino loaded the bases again, Salvador Perez grounded out to third, ending the inning.
The ugly math for the Royals: two hits, two walks, an error and just the one run scored.
Player of the game
Royals starter Zack Greinke was the victim of some shoddy defense but had a solid outing.
Greinke allowed four runs on four hits in six innings with six strikeouts. He got 11 swings and misses from the Braves. A ghastly mistake by Edward Olivares in right field gifted Atlanta two runs; otherwise, Greinke’s line would have looked even better.
What’s next: The Royals open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday. Jordan Lyles will face Texas’ Jacob deGrom on Monday. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium.
