Royals Snap Braves’ 10-Game Win Streak

For 10 games it looked like no one could slow down the Atlanta Braves, but the Kansas City Royals shut them down completely in a 1-0 win on Wednesday.

Wade Davis pitched seven shutout innings, outdueling Mike Minor, who gave up his lone earned run in the fourth inning off a Jeff Francoeur RBI single as the Royals snapped the Braves’ 10-game winning streak. The streak was the fifth longest in the first 13 games of a MLB season since 1900.

Atlanta’s powerful offense was stymied for the first time all season in the loss, which Braves sluggers credited to an excellent performance from Davis.

“Davis threw a great game,” Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla said, according to ESPN.com. “He kept us off balance and made the pitches when he needed to make them.”

Davis didn’t walk any in his seven innings of work and didn’t allow a runner into scoring position into the sixth inning. He knew he had a big challenge ahead of him taking on the hottest hitting lineup in baseball, so precise execution and location of pitches was crucial.

“My goal was to get ahead,” Davis said. “They have a pretty good offense. I had to mix it up a lot and minimize mistakes.”

That offense, which is still ranked in the top 15 teams in all major offense categories, will now travel to Pittsburgh to begin a four-game set with the 6-7 Pirates. The Braves will hope to heat their bats back up with a rebound win in game one, but the Pirates’ biggest strength so far this season so far has been pitching, as the team has allowed opponents to hit just .229 this year and has posted a team ERA of 3.90.

Game one of the series will see two young arms do battle, as Julio Teheran gets the ball for Atlanta against Pittsburgh’s Jeff Locke. Despite giving up nine earned runs in two starts Teheran has come away with two no decisions, while Locke is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA so far this year.

Atlanta had to cool off sometime and it looks like that time is now. This match-up doesn’t bode particularly well for the Braves considering they are going up against a tough young pitcher and a good defense team, while also sending out a pitcher who has struggled so far. Look for the Pirates to send the Braves to their second straight loss and cover +1.5 today.