Schwellenbach Shuts Out Red Sox as Braves Win 5-0

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    ATLANTA — On his 25th birthday, Spencer Schwellenbach delivered a formidable performance, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 5-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Schwellenbach showcased his skill with an impressive 11 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings, allowing only five hits and refraining from walking any batters.

    This game marked a significant bounce back for Schwellenbach, as he had previously conceded a grand slam to Rafael Devers during a 10-4 defeat against the Red Sox on May 18 in Boston. Demonstrating consistency, Schwellenbach has managed to pitch six or more innings in his last four consecutive starts, and in nine of his twelve starts this season, he has extended his outings into at least the sixth inning.

    In support of Schwellenbach’s standout pitching, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley bolstered the scoreboard by hitting home runs in the fourth inning off Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler. Buehler faced a challenging night, surrendering five earned runs on ten hits, alongside two walks and six strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings.

    A critical moment unfolded in the fourth inning when the Braves scored four runs, solidifying a 5-0 lead. This offensive outburst marked only the third instance since May 5 where the Braves managed to tally four or more runs in a single inning.

    Enhancing his impressive display, Schwellenbach clocked his fastest career pitches, delivering ten pitches at speeds of 99 mph or more during the first two innings. Prior to this game, his fastest pitch was registered at 98.9 mph.

    Looking ahead to the series finale on Sunday, Boston plans to start left-hander Garrett Crochet, who holds a 4-4 record with a stellar 2.04 ERA. Meanwhile, the Braves will counter with right-hander Bryce Elder, who currently stands at 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA.