Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach retired 19 batters in a row, and the Atlanta Braves won 3-2 against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night, taking two of three games in their series.
After Schwellenbach (5-6) gave up a single to Bryce Harper in the first inning, he didn’t allow another batter to reach base until Bryson Stott’s infield hit off his glove with two outs in the seventh inning.
“I really wanted that last one,” Schwellenbach said through clenched teeth. “I’ve gotta squeeze the glove and come up with the ball.”
J.T. Realmuto then hit a run-scoring double, which cut Atlanta’s 3-1 lead and ended Schwellenbach’s night. Pierce Johnson struck out Brandon Marsh to stop the threat and worked around two walks in the eighth inning, getting Trea Turner to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 28th save in 30 chances, extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings.
Adam Duvall homered for the Braves, whose streak of six straight division titles is now in serious doubt. They are still six games behind the Phillies and will face them again in a four-game series in Philadelphia next week.
“Now, all the games are big,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose team currently holds the final NL wild-card spot. “None are any more important than the others because it’s just about winning games.”
Schwellenbach, a surprising addition to the rotation after losing ace Spencer Strider to a season-ending injury, struck out nine batters, all swinging, over 6 2/3 innings.
“That was kind of my mindset right when they called me up,” he said. “We need a guy and I’m gonna be that guy.” Manager Brian Snitker praised the 24-year-old’s calm demeanor, confidence, and variety of pitches.
“He throws strikes and he’s got secondary pitches,” the manager said. “His velocity stays the same the whole game, I think because he uses all of his pitches.”
Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez (9-9) gave up nine hits and three runs in six innings, though it could have been worse. The Braves left six runners on base in the first four innings.
Duvall hit his 11th homer to lead off the sixth inning, adding to Atlanta’s lead. It was his first home run since hitting two against the New York Mets on July 26. He went 3 for 3 after struggling with a 1-for-29 slump.
“It felt good to put the barrel on one finally,” said Duvall, who is hitting just .186. “It’s been a tough year.”
The Phillies took the lead in the first inning after Kyle Schwarber reached base on Schwellenbach’s only walk. 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 by Gio Urshela, who joined the team this week after Austin Riley went on the injured list with a fractured hand.
Whit Merrifield began the third inning with a bunt single and scored the go-ahead run on Matt Olson’s double off the right-field wall. The Phillies made a mistake in a rundown that inning, but Sánchez managed to get out of the jam.
