Spencer Schwellenbach and the Braves get the best out of the Phillies

Aug. 23 – Atlanta rookie Spencer Schwellenbach continued his mastery against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, pitching the Braves to a 3-2 victory in the deciding game of their three-game series.

With the win, the Braves were able to reduce Philadelphia's lead in the National League East to six games. The Braves lead the season series 6-3.

Schwellenbach (5-6) pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits – he retired 18 batters in a row – with one walk and nine strikeouts. In two starts against Philadelphia, the rookie pitched 12 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on 15 strikeouts.

Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth inning and struck out the team, earning his 28th save. Ten of his twelve pitches were strikes.

Philadelphia starter Cristopher Sanchez (9-9) pitched six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. The left-hander allowed the leadoff batter to score a run in each of the first four innings.

The Phillies scored a run in the first inning when Trea Turner scored on an infield grounder by Nick Castellanos.

The Braves tied the game in the second inning on Gio Urshela's ground-rule double that brought in Ramon Laureano.

Atlanta took a 2-1 lead in the third when Matt Olson hit a double off the base of the right outfield wall, scoring Whit Merrifield.

Adam Duvall ended a long home run drought in the sixth inning to give the Braves a 3-1 lead. Duvall, who hit 3 for 3, hit his 11th home run, a 421-footer to center field, for his first home run since July 26. It was only the sixth home run Sanchez has allowed this year.

Philadelphia scored a run in the seventh inning to cut the lead to 3-2. Bryson Stott hit a single, the team's first baserunner since the first inning, and scored on JT Realmuto's double to right. Reliever Pierce Johnson came in and struck out Brandon Marsh, ending the inning.

Johnson walked two batters in the eighth inning, but got Turner to force an inning-ending double play, ending the comeback.

–Field level media

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