Spencer Schwellenbach shines, Adam Duvall delivers, as Braves take the series against the Phillies (2024)

The Atlanta Braves took on the Philadelphia Phillies in the final game of a three game set with a chance to win the series.

Spencer Schwellenbach, who has been on fire since July took the mound for the Braves against Cristopher Sánchez who has had a 5.55 ERA since the start of July.

The game did not start out smooth for Schwellenbach as he led of the game issuing a walk to Kyle Schwarber. He was able to get Trea Turner to ground into a force out at second but then Bryce Harper singled off of him to put runners on the corners. A groundball was forced, but the Braves were unable to turn the double play and it resulted in a run scored. Stott then popped up to end the top of the first with the score 1-0.

The Braves looked like they were going to be able get something going early when Sánchez also started the game off with a walk to Michael Harris II. Whit Merrifield struck out, but Marcell Ozuna came through with a single. Matt Olson hit into a grounder, but the Phillies were able to turn the double play to end the inning. Pretty interesting how they were almost identical halves of the inning.

Schwellenbach settled down in the second with two strikeouts and a grounder, facing the minimum hitters. This was not the case for the Braves. Ramón Laureano and Adam Duvall had back-to-back singles. Orlando Arcia and Sean Murphy both struck out, but newly acquired Brave Gio Urshela hit a ground-rule double to tie the game. Unfortunately, it looked like two runs may have scored if the ball stayed in the park. Harris then grounded out.

In the third Schwellenbach kept up the dominance with two more strikeouts and a pop up — yet again facing the minimum hitters. The Braves struck back yet again in the third. Merrifield singled and moved to second on a groundout from Ozuna. Olson then made up for his GDP in the first inning by smacking a double to bring in the run to make the score 2-1. Laureano struck out, but Duvall singled to put runners on the corners. Platoons work! Arcia could not keep the fun going as he struck out to end the inning.

Schwellenbach continued to shove in the fourth inning by completing his third straight three-up-three down inning, which included a strikeout of former MVP Bryce Harper. Once the Braves came up, Murphy was able to connect for a single, but it was followed by a groundout and two strikeouts.

Stop if you heard this before, but Schwellenbach had yet another three-up-three down inning when he pitched the fifth. This made it fourteen straight hitters sat down. He picked up two more strikeouts in this inning making his total seven strikeouts to this point. In the Braves turn in the fifth inning to hit, they hit into three straight groundouts from Ozuna, Olson, and Laureano.

But wait, there's more! Schwellenbach came back out in the sixth to sit down all three batters yet again. This time he induced a lineout to Trea Turner, a flyout to Rojas, and a strikeout to Schwarber.

For the Braves in the sixth, Duvall continued with what has arguably been his best game of the year as he led off the inning with a no doubter solo shot to CF that was 110.4 MPH off the bat.

The Braves could not keep the momentum going offensively as the next three hitters were sat down.

Schwellenbach stayed in the game in the seventh and it looked like he would get another clean inning. He sat down Harper and Castellanos via pop up and strikeout respectively to make his streak of hitters sat down at nineteen for the night. His streak ended when he gave up a single to Stott, followed by a double from Realmuto to make the score 3-2. Pierce Johnson then came in to replace him and struck out Brandon Marsh. Schwellenbach ended his night with 6.2 IP, two ER, three hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts.

Tanner Banks then came in to pitch the seventh for the Phillies. Michael Harris was called out on a bang-bang play at first, but the Braves challenged the play and he was awarded the base. Unfortunately, it ended up not resulting in a run in this inning because the heart of the order that followed him was retired in order to end the inning.

Pierce Johnson stayed in the game to pitch the eighth. This inning was not as clean as what we were becoming accustomed to this evening. He was able to strikeout backup third baseman Weston Wilson, but pitch hitter Cal Stevenson walked. Kyle Schwarber was able to draw a walk right after that to put two on with one out. Somehow, Johnson was able to get the speedy Trea Turner to ground into a double play to end the potential rally.

The eighth was more of the same for the Braves’ offense. Laureano struck out. Kelenic came in to hit for Duvall because there was now a RHP on the mound. This did not have a positive result when he also struck out. Arcia then grounded out to end the inning.

This brought us to another one run game in the ninth inning of this series. Raisel Iglesias, who has not given up a run since June 16 came in and struck out the side, which included Harper, Castellanos, and Bryson Stott.

Braves won 3-2. They lead the season series 6-3. The Braves will take on the Nationals tomorrow.