In Kansas City’s first game after Yost announced he will retire after the season, the lowly Royals burst to a six-run lead in the first three innings and beat the NL East champion Atlanta Braves 9-6 Tuesday night behind three hits and two RBIs from Nicky Lopez.

Yost, who turned 65 last month, was hired by the Royals in May 2010 and led Kansas City to consecutive AL pennants and the 2015 World Series title, the second in team history and first since 1985. The Royals are 58-100 in their third straight losing season.

“We want to send him out on as high a note as possible,” winning pitcher Danny Duffy said. “The season hasn’t gone the way we wanted and he deserves to go out on a better note.”

Atlanta, assured it will start the NL Division Series at home on Oct. 3, is 96-62. The Braves need to win all four of their remaining games to reach 100 victories for first time since 2003.

“I was telling the boys, my fastball command all day was yard sale. It wasn’t there. It was all over the map,” Duffy said.

Julio Teheran (10-11) gave up six runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings. Yost credited Whit Merrifield’s 13-pitch at-bat in the first inning as a key.