Royals tie club record by allowing 14 walks in series-opening loss to Braves

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Jul 28, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have reached a point in their season where every win is important and every loss is magnified to a greater extent.

On Monday, the Royals felt the brunt of a lackluster 10-7 loss to the Atlanta Braves in a series opener at Kauffman Stadium.

The Braves (45-60) arrived 16 games under .500. They were swept by the Texas Rangers last weekend and have struggled throughout the 2025 season since opening the year 0-7. Meanwhile, the Royals (52-55) were fresh off a pivotal series victory against the Cleveland Guardians.

Monday’s contest was a chance to build some momentum ahead of a nine-game road trip against American League foes — the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins — in the upcoming week.

The Royals couldn’t get it done at home on another sweltering evening. The Braves sandwiched three home runs around 14 walks allowed by Royals pitchers — tying a club single-game record. Atlanta stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley each went deep against Kansas City pitchers.

Riley finished with four RBIs. His three-run double in the seventh inning served as the final blow.

Forty-five-year-old Royals left-handed starter Rich Hill took the loss. He surrendered four runs and six walks in his first start at Kauffman Stadium since 2021. He also allowed two of the Braves’ three homers in his four innings of work.

The Royals could not maintain an early two-run lead. The Braves surged forward in the middle innings as Kansas City squandered some opportunities.

In the sixth, the Royals had two baserunners aboard with no outs. Neither scored as MJ Melendez flew out, Kyle Isbel went down swinging and Jonathan India grounded out. The Royals did put up three runs in the ninth but couldn’t overcome such a large deficit.

Kansas City finished 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. Atlanta took advantage, snapping a five-game losing streak.

Salvador Perez exits game early

The Royals are dealing with multiple injuries at the moment.

On Monday, the club announced that All-Star starter Kris Bubic will miss the remainder of the 2025 season with a left rotator cuff strain.

And now the Royals are evaluating yet another injury.

Team captain Salvador Perez left Monday’s game with a left-elbow contusion. He was replaced by backup catcher Freddy Fermin in the fifth inning.

In his second at-bat, Perez was hit by a 94.4 mph fastball thrown by Braves ace starter Spencer Strider. The ball hit Perez’s left elbow guard.

Strider appeared to be upset with himself for the errant pitch and Perez looked to be in significant pain immediately.

Members of the Royals’ training staff hustled out of the dugout for a medical evaluation of Perez. The longest-tenured Royals stayed in the game and ran the basepaths, and also caught the fourth inning, before Fermin took over behind the plate.

Perez had hit an RBI single in the first inning. Fermin added a two-run single in the ninth inning against Braves reliever Rafael Montero.

Family Affair at The K

The Braves arrived in Kansas City with their star-studded lineup in tow. And Royals fans caught a glimpse of 2023 National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.

Acuña made his presence felt with a two-run homer into the left-field fountains. The blast traveled 468 feet as the Braves tied the game in the third inning. He also showcased his defensive wizardry in right field.

Royals fans let Acuña hear it with a chorus of boos. However, Acuña took it all in good fun as he dueled with his cousin — and Royals third baseman — Maikel Garcia throughout the night.

Garcia had a strong game of his own. He recorded three hits, including an RBI double.

Both players enjoyed some playful banter during the game. In the first inning, Garcia gave Acuña a jovial finger-wag after beating his incoming throw from right field while simultaneously scoring a run.

What’s next

The Royals will send right-hander Seth Lugo (7-5, 2.95 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night against the Braves. Lugo, who signed a two-year contract extension on Monday, will oppose new Atlanta acquisition Erick Fedde, a right-hander with a 3-10 record and 5.22 ERA this season.

____