REPORT: Braves’ Rookie Retires 19 batters In A Row As They Thrash Phillies
Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach retired 19 consecutive batters, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night, securing two out of three games in their series.
After allowing a single to Bryce Harper in the first inning, Schwellenbach (5-6) didn’t let another batter reach base until Bryson Stott’s infield hit glanced off his glove with two outs in the seventh.
“I really wanted that last one,” Schwellenbach said, his frustration evident. “I’ve gotta squeeze the glove and come up with the ball.”
Following Stott’s hit, J.T. Realmuto doubled in a run, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 3-1 and ending Schwellenbach’s outing. Pierce Johnson then struck out Brandon Marsh to halt the rally and navigated around two walks in the eighth inning, inducing a double play from Trea Turner to escape the jam.
Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth inning, securing his 28th save in 30 opportunities and extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings.
Adam Duvall homered for the Braves, but their streak of six consecutive division titles is in jeopardy. They remain six games behind the Phillies and will meet them again next week in a crucial four-game series in Philadelphia.
“Now, all the games are big,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose team currently occupies the final NL wild-card spot. “None are any more important than the others because it’s just about winning games.”
Spencer Schwellenbach, unexpectedly thrust into the rotation after ace Spencer Strider’s season-ending injury, struck out nine batters—all swinging—over 6 2/3 innings.
“That was my mindset right from the moment they called me up,” Schwellenbach said. “We needed a guy, and I’m going to be that guy.” Manager Brian Snitker commended the 24-year-old’s poise, confidence, and diverse pitch arsenal.
“He throws strikes and has solid secondary pitches,” Snitker noted. “His velocity holds steady throughout the game, likely because he effectively uses all of his pitches.”
Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez (9-9) allowed nine hits and three runs over six innings, though he minimized the damage by stranding six Braves runners in the first four innings.
Adam Duvall hit his 11th home run to lead off the sixth inning, extending Atlanta’s lead. It was his first homer since he hit two against the New York Mets on July 26. Duvall, who had been in a 1-for-29 slump, went 3-for-3 in the game.
“It felt good to finally put the barrel on one,” said Duvall, who is batting just .186. “It’s been a tough year.”
The Phillies took an early lead in the first inning when Kyle Schwarber reached base on Schwellenbach’s only walk. Bryce Harper followed with a single, and Nick Castellanos drove in the run by beating out a potential double play.
Atlanta tied the game in the second inning with a ground-rule double from Gio Urshela, who joined the team this week after Austin Riley was placed on the injured list with a fractured hand.
Whit Merrifield led off the third inning with a bunt single and later scored the go-ahead run on Matt Olson’s double off the right-field wall. Despite a mistake by the Phillies during a rundown in that inning, Sánchez managed to escape further damage.