Spencer Schwellenbach delivered a career-high 11 strikeouts over seven impressive innings of two-hit ball, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday, which snapped their six-game losing streak.
“I’m a confident person. I expect to pitch well every time I’m on the mound, and I think that’s why I’ve had success. I’m not surprised by it,” Schwellenbach remarked. “This win was needed more than ever, and I really dug deep today.”
Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson provided the offensive spark with back-to-back homers in the fourth inning, following a solid start from Mets pitcher Tylor Megill, who had retired the first 11 batters in his return from the minors. Orlando Arcia added an RBI single in the fifth after Sean Murphy’s leadoff walk, and Eddie Rosario capped off the scoring with a home run against Megill (2-5) to start the seventh.
With this victory, Atlanta moved back ahead of the Mets for second place in the NL East and claimed the league’s top wild-card spot. This win also marked the Braves’ first victory after a six-game skid, their longest losing streak since September 2017. They have not lost seven in a row since August 2016.
“It’s probably an understatement to say we needed a win today,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.
Schwellenbach (4-5) thoroughly dominated a previously hot Mets lineup, ending their five-game winning streak. He did not issue any walks and threw 62 of his 89 pitches for strikes in just his 10th major league start.
“His fastball was the hardest it’s been all year,” Mets slugger J.D. Martinez said. “His stuff was moving all over the place. He had everything working.”
When asked if he considered letting the 24-year-old Schwellenbach pitch the eighth inning, Snitker replied, “I don’t know that he’ll see the eighth. We’re being mindful of his innings in his first full year. Quite honestly, he probably could have gone nine, but we have to consider how many innings he’s going to rack up, especially since he goes deep into games.”
The rookie right-hander retired his final 10 batters, allowing only doubles to Jeff McNeil in the second inning and Pete Alonso in the fourth.
“That was really impressive,” Snitker added. “He’s been outstanding — just the consistency and the innings he’s covered have been remarkable.”
Joe Jiménez and Raisel Iglesias finished the four-hitter for Atlanta’s 12th shutout of the season, tying them with Boston for the most in the majors. Rosario contributed with a leaping catch at the left-field fence in the ninth, while Iglesias struck out Martinez and Alonso with two on to secure the win in just 2 hours and 13 minutes.
The Mets, who never advanced a runner to third base, were shut out for the eighth time this season, dropping to 11-4 over their last 15 games. Martinez struck out in all four of his plate appearances, while Mark Vientos fanned in all three of his at-bats.
“Today was his best game of the year,” Murphy said of Schwellenbach. “He seems to improve with every outing. I don’t say that lightly. He’s become more comfortable and focused on what we want to do with him. We really needed this win, and Spencer delivered.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: 2B/OF Whit Merrifield (right index finger) won’t be able to play in the field until his stitches are removed, which Snitker anticipates won’t happen until at least August 1 when Atlanta returns home.
Mets: RHP Kodai Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a high-grade left calf strain. New York manager Carlos Mendoza did not rule out a possible return if the Mets make the playoffs. CF Harrison Bader missed his fourth consecutive game with a sore right ankle but reported feeling better and planned to go through drills before the game. Mendoza hoped Bader would be available off the bench. OF Brandon Nimmo was shaken up after fouling a ball off his left knee in the fourth but stayed in the game and said afterward he was fine.
UP NEXT
All-Star RHP Reynaldo López (7-4, 2.12 ERA) is set to start for Atlanta in the final game of the four-game series on Sunday against LHP David Peterson (5-0, 3.14 ERA).