Braves rally late and bullpen clutch in thrilling win against Mets

The Braves were down by three runs in the eighth, and came back and won in the bottom of the tenth on a walk-off

The Atlanta Braves took on the first place New York Mets after a weather delay in the first of seven games that these teams will face each other over their next thirteen games.

Spencer Schwellenbach was the starter for the Braves after recording his first career complete game in his last start.

The game looked like it was going to start great at first when Schwellenbach was able to strikeout Lindor and then forced a pop up from Nimmo, but then Juan Soto took him deep for a solo shot to make the score 0-1. Fortunately, that was the only damage in the inning as Alonso grounded out.

The Braves offense started off with a familiar result, Acuña getting on base. This time with a walk. However, Eli White was batting second, which makes little to no sense, and he grounded into a double play. Olson then grounded out to end the inning.

Schwellenbach did not have any better luck in the second inning. McNeil led off the inning with a single. Schwellenbach was able to get Young to fly out but then walked Alvarez. Remember, Schwellenbach had zero walks in his complete game. Maurico struck out, but then Tyrone Taylor knocked in two on a double to make the score 0-3. Glass half full, Schwellenbach struck out Lindor for the second time in the game.

The only offense the Braves could muster in the second was a single from Ozzie Albies. The third inning was a little shaky for Schwellenbach. He got Nimmo to ground out, but then walked Soto. Fortunately, Soto was picked off with a throw to second, and then Alonso was thrown out by White trying to stretch a single to a double.

The Braves had some offense in the third. After Harris struck out and Allen grounded out, Acuña walked again and then Eli White came through with a single. Matt Olson then singled to plate one run to make the score 1-3. Austin Riley then grounded out to end the inning.

Schwellenbach finally had a clean inning in the fourth. He recorded two groundouts and a strikeout to Young. The Braves’ offense was again cut short by a double play. Ozuna singled, but then Albies grounded into a double play, followed by yet another ground out by Murphy.

The fifth looked like it may go well for Schwellenbach when he got Mauricio to fly out, but then his new rival Tyrone Taylor took him deep for a solo shot to make the score 1-4. Schwellenbach settled back in and got Lindor to pop and and then struck out Nimmo. The Braves had zero offense in the fifth. Even Acuña flied out on a routine play.

Schwellenbach stayed in to pitch the sixth. He was able to get Soto to line out on a hard hit ball. Alonso then singled, but then was doubled up when McNeil hit a line out to Nick Allen. Allen had an insanely quick release on the heads play. The Braves were yet again sat down with the minimum batters in the sixth.

Brian Snitker showed faith in Schwellenbach and it paid off. He stayed in to pitch the seventh inning and was able to strikeout the side. The Braves had some fortune with Ozuna reaching on an error from Mauricio at third, but then could not capitalize as the next three hitters were sat down.

With Tyrone Taylor coming up, Brian Snitker made the decision to pull Schwellenbach and bring in Pierce Johnson. Schwellenbach ended his night with 7.0 innings pitched while giving up four earned runs and two walks while striking out eight. Taylor then struck out by Johnson who then forced two groundouts.

It became crunch time for the Braves in the eighth. David Peterson stayed in the game. He then walked Nick Allen and then Acuña singled. This resulted in a pitching changed where Reed Garrett came in. Verdugo pinch hit for Eli White and came up clutch with a single to load the bases for Matt Olson and zero outs. Things were getting frustrating with a quickness when Olson struck out and then Riley flied out too short to score a run. Ozuna then came up to the plate and after drawing a 2-0 count saw two strikes to make it a 2-2 count. He fouled one off and then clobbered an inside splitter down the line for a three run double to tie the game 4-4.

Albies then popped up to end the inning after Fairchild took over as a runner for Ozuna.

Dylan Lee then came in the game to pitch the ninth. Juan Soto singled but then the Braves were able to yet again pull off a fantastic double play when Acuña made a great play on a line drive from Alonso and then threw out Soto trying to head back to first. Lee then struck out McNeil on three pitches.

The Mets then brought in closer Edwin Díaz to face Sean Murphy for the bottom of the ninth. Also of note, Acuña’s little brother Luisangel came in as a defensive substitution at second base. Murphy grounded out after battling to a full count. As a shock to likely no one, Michael Harris struck out, making it three on the night. Drake Baldwin then came in the game as a pinch hitter for Nick Allen in an old school small ball type move. At the very least, it was fun to see Snitker try something of this nature. Unfortunately, it did not work out as Baldwin grounded out.

Luke Williams came in to play shortstop since Allen was now out of the game. Raisel Iglesias is the one who got the ball in the tenth to face the bottom of the Met’s order with Luisangel Acuña on second as the ghost runner. Iglesias struck out Young to start the inning. He then got Alvarez to fly out to RF after working to a full count. Mauricio then popped up to end the top of the tenth.

This then brought up Ronald Acuña up to the plate with a chance to be a hero. The Mets did not take this chance. Huascar Brazobán was the new pitcher and he intentionally walked Acuña. Verdugo then popped up to third. After a wild pitch Luke Williams moved to third and then Matt Olson was walked to load the bases with one out. Austin Riley had the chance to be a hero and came through with a walk-off sacrifice fly to the center field warning track scoring Luke Williams from third.

The Bullpen came up clutch and the Braves offense showed some of its best tenacity all season long as they stayed in the game and came back from a three run deficit to win the game in extra innings. This game could potentially be the spark the Braves need to get back in the right direction.

First pitch tomorrow is at 7:15 EDT.