4) Braves And Royals Swapped Sloppy Base-running
The Royals and Braves cost themselves runs in back-to-back half innings, showing why both teams have been losing the last couple of weeks.
In the bottom of the sixth, Eric Hosmer hit a two-out double into the right-center gap. Kendrys Morales followed with a deep fly to the warning track, but Hosmer failed to return to the bag and tag up. Thus, he couldn’t advance to third.
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The failure to move up on Morales’ fly hurt the KC Royals when Salvandor Perez hit a shallow single to left field. Atlanta left fielder Ender Inciarte threw Hosmer out at home plate attempting to score from second.
Hosmer would have scored easily from third.
The Braves returned the favor in the top of the seventh inning. Second baseman Chase d’Arnaud led off with a double against Joakim Soria. Center fielder Mallex Smith popped-up on a bunt attempt, and then Kelly Johnson hit a grounder to the left side.
Inexplicably, d’Arnaud attempted to advance to third, only to get thrown out by KC Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar.
The buffoonery didn’t stop there. The Braves tied up the game against Royals closer Wade Davis, but Mallex Smith gifted an out to the Kansas City Royals by getting hung up between second and third after hitting an RBI single.
It was the first out of the inning and probably cost the Braves the lead and a win.
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