Takeaways: Braves win game two and the series against the Royals
The Braves won the series tonight in Kansas City, beating the Royals 9-3. The team has now won five in a row and holds a two-game lead over the Mets in the NL East. They will look for their second consecutive series sweep tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10p Eastern.
Rainy and Cold Day in Missouri
It rained in Kansas City today. A lot. The game was initially scheduled to start at 4:10 Eastern, but after a steady soaking rain, the tarp remained on the field, and the first pitch was not until around 6:45 pm. The rain picked back up in the second inning, but no further delay was necessary. The temperature was in the mid-forties as the game began.
Braves Bats Stay Hot
The rain and cold did not seem to affect the Braves at the plate. The Braves picked up where they left off last night and continued to hit well in tonight’s game. Last night the team won with five home runs from five different players. Tonight’s game featured only one home run, but the Braves put together several innings with multiple base hits and RBIs. The Braves have scored nineteen runs and have twenty-five hits through the series' first two games.
Sean Murphy started the season a little cold at the plate but has completely turned it around in the last few games. We mentioned it in our in-game article, but he is now five for seven in the first two games of this series, with two home runs and seven RBIs.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Marcell Ozuna. He went hitless in four at-bats tonight, dropping his average to .075 on the season. He did reach base on a walk in his fifth trip to the plate in the ninth inning. There were audible boos from the Braves fans in attendance in Kansas City after each out he made tonight.
Ozuna is currently 2-for-31 in his last ten games, with 1 RBI and 12Ks over that span.
Podcast: The Atlanta Braves have to move on from Marcell Ozuna
Bryce Elder Continues to Pitch Well
Elder made it through five and one-third innings tonight, giving up eight hits and three earned runs. He walked two and struck out four. The depth of the Braves starting pitching has been crucial to begin this year with the injuries to Fried and Wright. Elder began the season in AAA but has performed well in each game he has pitched since being called up to the big-league club.
Fried's expected back as soon as this Tuesday against San Diego, but Elder's 1.53 ERA through his first three starts is making the case for him to stay in Atlanta as the fifth starter for a while.
What's Next?
Atlanta goes for the series sweep on Sunday - first pitch is at 2:10 ET. The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South, and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.
More stories from the Royals series
WATCH: Sean Murphy goes deep against the Royals
Takeaways: Braves take game one in the Royals series
WATCH: Sam Hilliard can do EVERYTHING
WATCH: Brian Snitker tossed in the top of the second inning
WATCH: Matt Olson and Austin Riley hit back to back homeruns to open the game
Atlanta Braves officially call up Vaughn Grissom
Podcast: The Atlanta Braves have to move on from Marcell Ozuna
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