Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach retired 19 straight Phillies as the Atlanta Braves clinched a 3-2 victory on Thursday night, taking two of three in the series against the NL East-leading Phillies.
Schwellenbach (5-6) allowed a one-out single to Bryce Harper in the first but was untouchable until Bryson Stott's infield hit deflected off his glove with two outs in the seventh. J.T. Realmuto then laced a double to the right-center gap, slicing Atlanta’s lead to 3-1 and ending Schwellenbach’s evening. Pierce Johnson quelled the rally by striking out Brandon Marsh, then escaped a shaky eighth by inducing an inning-ending double play from Trea Turner. Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth for his 28th save in 30 chances, extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings.
Adam Duvall homered for the Braves, who still face an uphill battle in the NL East race, trailing the Phillies by six games. The two teams will meet again next week for a pivotal four-game series in Philadelphia. Cristopher Sánchez (9-9) took the loss, allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings. He worked around traffic, stranding six Braves through the first four innings, but Duvall's 11th homer leading off the sixth extended Atlanta’s lead.
Duvall, who had been stuck in a 1-for-29 slump, broke out with a 3-for-3 performance, his first home run since a two-homer game against the Mets on July 26.
The Phillies now head to Kansas City for an interleague series, with Taijuan Walker (3-4, 5.69 ERA) facing Michael Wacha (10-6, 3.33 ERA) on Friday.
