KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Foltynewicz pitched eight impeccable innings and Mallex Smith contributed three hits as the Atlanta Braves topped the reeling Kansas City Royals 5-0 on Saturday night.

Foltynewicz's outing was the longest of his career as he threw 74 of his 103 pitches for strikes. Foltynewicz (1-1) gave up seven hits, walked none and struck out four.

Smith led off the ninth with a triple -- Atlanta's first of the season.

Defending World Series champion Kansas City has only five victories in their past 18 games.

The Braves jumped on Royals right-hander Dillon Gee (0-1) for three runs in the sixth. With the count 1-2, Kelly Johnson hit a two-run single, scoring Nick Markakis and Ender Inciarte. Smith, who led off the inning with a double, scored the first run on Inciarte's double.

The Braves padded their lead with two runs in the eighth off Royals relievers Scott Alexander and Chien-Ming Wang. A.J. Pierzynski's two-out double off Wang scored Johnson and Jeff Francoeur.

Gee allowed three runs, six hits, three walks (one intentional) and struck out five in 5 1/3 innings.

The Royals squandered scoring opportunities in the first two innings, stranding a runner at third base.

Lorenzo Cain singled with one out in the first and stole second base, and he later stopped at third on Eric Hosmer's single to left. Foltynewicz promptly picked Hosmer off first for the second out. The Royals challenged, but after a 90-second delay the ruling on the field was withheld. The inning ended with Kendrys Morales striking out.

Salvador Perez doubled to center with one out in the second and advanced to third on Cheslor Cuthbert's ground out. Perez was stranded there when Christian Colon struck out.

Paulo Orlando singled to lead off the Royals' third, but was erased when Cain grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Gee, who was making his first start since June 14 when he was the Mets, limited the Braves to three hits, two which failed to leave the infield, in the first five innings.

Mallex Smith started the Braves' third with a bunt single, but Gee picked him off. Pierzynski had an infield single, a liner off Hosmer's glove in the second, but Gee coaxed Gordon Beckham to roll into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: Royals RHP Kris Medlen, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday, said he has "some slight inflammation" in his rotator cuff after a MRI exam on Friday. "I'm a no-throw right now," Medlen said. "It shouldn't be anything too serious and after a couple of days I should get things going." ... The Braves starters -- Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair, Williams Perez and Mike Foltynewicz -- have an average age of 24 years, 182 days, the youngest rotation age in the majors. ... Braves RHP Matt Wisler and Royals LHP Danny Duffy are the pitching probables for the Sunday series finale. This will be Duffy's first start of the season and he will be on a 50-pitch limit. ... Manager Ned Yost was featured as the first Royals bobblehead giveaway of the season. "I got here early to try to get one," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said with a laugh. ... Royals 2B Christian Colon celebrated his 27th birthday.