Spencer Schwellenbach struck out a career-high 11 batters over seven strong innings, allowing just two hits, and the Atlanta Braves ended their six-game losing streak with a 4-0 win against the New York Mets on Saturday.
“I’m a confident person. I expect to throw good every time I get the ball and I think that’s why I’ve had success. I’m not surprised by it,” Schwellenbach said. “That was needed more than ever and I kind of dug a little bit deeper today.”
Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning after Mets starter Tylor Megill retired the first 11 batters in his return from the minors. Orlando Arcia added an RBI single in the fifth after Sean Murphy walked to start the inning, and Eddie Rosario hit a home run against Megill (2-5) to lead off the seventh.
With this win, Atlanta moved back ahead of the Mets for second place in the NL East and the league’s top wild card spot. The Braves ended their longest losing streak since a six-game slide in September 2017, the final week of Brian Snitker’s first full season as manager. They haven’t lost seven games in a row since August 2016.
“Probably an understatement that we needed a win today,” Snitker said.
Schwellenbach (4-5) completely shut down a hot Mets lineup, ending New York’s five-game winning streak. He didn’t walk any batters and threw 62 of 89 pitches for strikes in his 10th major league start.
“His fastball was the hardest I think it’s been all year,” Mets slugger J.D. Martinez said. “His stuff was moving everywhere. … He had everything going.”
Snitker was asked if he thought about letting the 24-year-old Schwellenbach pitch the eighth inning.
“I don’t know that he’ll see the eighth. We’re looking at total innings in his first full year and things like that,” Snitker said. “He probably could have gone nine, quite honestly. But we’ve got to be aware of the innings this kid is going to rack up, especially because he goes deep in games.”
