What a ride it’s already been for the Atlanta Braves fans this season. Let’s face it—April hasn’t exactly rolled out the red carpet for Atlanta. But just when it looked like things might be slipping away, the Braves delivered a statement win that screamed, “Not so fast!”
And the catalyst? None other than Sean Murphy is back in action, and he immediately makes his presence felt in the series opener against the Phillies.
That win did more than add a digit to the W column—it snapped the funk. Suddenly, the at-bats had energy. The dugout had swagger. The offense? Competitive, lively, and—most importantly—clutch.
Iglesias Falters, Turner Strikes, and Game Two Slips Away
Game two being heartbreak city. Raisel Iglesias had a rough outing, and Trea Turner turned a late-inning fastball into a game-tying, momentum-shifting rocket.
That one stung. No way around it. A blown save like that can shake a clubhouse, but credit the Braves for shaking it off instead.
They came into the rubber match ready to battle, and boy, did they deliver.
Schwellenbach Shines Bright Under Pressure
Extra innings. Rain delay. Rivalry vibes are thick in the air. Enter: Spencer Schwellenbach. The rookie wasn’t just good—he was commanding. One earned run over six innings. Five strikeouts. And the slider he spun to strike out Nick Castellanos with the bases loaded? Filthy.
Big-league poise with a big-league moment. He even flashed the leather on a double play that had every scout in the park scribbling “Gold Glove?” in the margins.
Sure, he didn’t get the win—because baseball isn’t always fair. But his performance? It’s the kind of outing that builds reputations and shuffles Cy Young odds.
Ozuna Walks It Off in Epic Fashion For the Braves
Then came the eleventh. The Phillies scratched across a run, and things looked grim as Jose Suarez walked in the go-ahead. But Austin Riley had different plans—ripping an RBI double into the right-center gap to keep the game alive.
And then—cue the fireworks. Marcell Ozuna stepped in, stared down a slider, and absolutely obliterated it. A 109 mph rocket. 413 feet of pure, game-ending glory into the left field seats. It was worth every soggy second for the fans who stuck it out through the rain and extra frames.
Ozuna’s season stat line now reads like something out of MLB The Show: .316/.509/.526 with a ridiculous 195 wRC+. Two homers, 15 walks, seven RBI—he’s not just seeing the ball, he’s punishing it.
The Braves now head south to face the Rays, where Bryce Elder is set to take the ball against Taj Bradley. If this series against Philly was a spark, Tampa might just be the blaze.
