Schwellenbach’s Complete Game Powers Braves to Rare Series Victory
MILWAUKEE — The Atlanta Braves gave their fans a long-overdue reason to cheer with a 6-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, bringing a much-needed end to several frustrating trends. This victory marked just their fifth in the last 20 games and helped the team secure a series win for the first time in weeks.
The Braves had not won a series since mid-May, losing six straight matchups to teams including the Nationals, Padres, Phillies, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, and Giants. The final two of those delivered particularly stinging blows, sweeping Atlanta in three-game series. But against the Brewers, the Braves started strong with a 7-1 win Monday, stumbled Tuesday with a 4-1 loss, then rebounded decisively in the finale thanks to an outstanding performance from Spencer Schwellenbach.
In only his second full MLB season, the 25-year-old right-hander threw the first complete game of his career. Schwellenbach delivered 105 pitches, 76 of them for strikes, giving up five hits and two runs, while striking out nine and issuing zero walks. It was a performance that stood out not just for its efficiency, but for the steadiness it brought to a bullpen that’s struggled mightily this season.
“He was incredible out there,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “First-pitch strikes, lots of strikes overall, and great command all the way through the lineup. To do all that in just over 100 pitches is pretty remarkable.”
This game was Schwellenbach’s seventh straight start going at least six innings. Prior to Wednesday, his longest outing in the majors was eight innings against the Marlins in early April. His dominance came at the perfect time, helping a Braves team desperate to avoid another bullpen collapse like the one they suffered last week — a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to Arizona after leading 10-4 in the ninth.
Offensively, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II each delivered two-run home runs to power Atlanta’s scoring. Harris homered in the second off Brewers rookie Chad Patrick, while Acuña followed with his sixth homer of the season in the fourth. Acuña, who’s only recently returned from the injured list, also added two singles, continuing a promising start to his season.
“I really like having him at the top of the order,” Snitker added, referencing Acuña’s strong presence at the plate.
Defensively, the Braves were sharp. Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio led off the first with a triple but was thrown out at home on a grounder by William Contreras thanks to a sharp play by third baseman Austin Riley. That momentum shift helped Schwellenbach settle in — he retired 13 straight batters at one point. Though Rhys Hoskins homered in the second and Eric Haase doubled in a run in the eighth, Schwellenbach stayed composed and finished strong with a flawless ninth inning.
Wednesday’s win was not only a morale booster, but it also provided some hope for a team that started the season 0-7 and recently sat a season-worst 10 games below .500. Their last series win came a month ago in Boston, and this one gives them some positive momentum as they return home.
Now sitting at 29-38 and fourth in the NL East, the Braves still face a steep hill in their pursuit of an eighth straight postseason berth. But this victory at least made the flight home to Atlanta feel more optimistic than the one that opened this road trip.
Looking ahead, the Braves get a chance to build on the win with a favorable schedule. They’ll host the struggling Colorado Rockies for a three-game series at Truist Park, with rest days on both ends. The Rockies came into Wednesday with the worst record in MLB at 12-54. Friday’s game will feature a matchup of right-handers: Bryce Elder (2-3, 4.08 ERA) for Atlanta and German Márquez (2-8, 7.00 ERA) for Colorado.
Meanwhile, the Brewers (36-33), currently third in the NL Central, will welcome the St. Louis Cardinals for a four-game series. That series opener will see Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.35 ERA) take the mound for St. Louis, while Milwaukee plans to debut highly anticipated 23-year-old Jacob Misiorowski.
Misiorowski, known for his blazing fastball that touched 103 mph in Triple-A — the fastest recorded by a true starter since Statcast began tracking — has made waves in the minors. At 6-foot-7, the right-hander brings an imposing presence and was dominant in 12 starts for the Nashville Sounds, with a 2.13 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings.
“I think the organization believes in my ability,” Misiorowski said ahead of his debut. “They think I’m strong enough for this, and I’m excited to take on the challenge. Whatever pitch count they give me, I’ll do it.”
A 2022 second-round pick out of Crowder College, Misiorowski wasn’t called up last year, but now gets a chance to showcase his stuff on the big stage. “I’m just ready to go out there and pitch,” he said.
For the Braves, the key will be building on Schwellenbach’s gem. If he can continue emerging as a consistent rotation anchor, and if the offense continues to show signs of life, Atlanta might yet claw its way back into the playoff picture.
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