Braves Get First Win Behind Schwellenbach

Spencer Schwellenbach carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson hit back-to-back homers, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 10-0 on Friday night for their long-awaited first win. Ozuna drove in three runs with three hits. Olson drove in three runs with two hits. The Braves won their home opener to end a seven-game winless drought, their worst start since losing their first nine in 2016. Atlanta became the last team in the majors to win its first game. No team has made the playoffs following a 0-7 start.

credit: ESPN

Schwellenbach (1-0) set the tone early, retiring the first 14 Marlins batters before Liam Hicks broke the streak with a bloop single to left field in the fifth inning. The right-hander's stellar performance, allowing only two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts in eight innings, was a sight to behold. The Braves took an early lead, scoring three runs off right-hander Max Meyer (0-1) in the third. Ozuna's double, driving in Michael Harris and Ozzie Albies, further solidified the Braves' lead. With a 16-4 hit advantage over the Marlins, the Braves' dominance was evident.

Breaking it Open

A review was needed to confirm Ozuna hit a homer off right-hander George Soriano in the seventh. The ball glanced off center fielder Dane Myers’s glove and bounced off the yellow stripe on the top of the wall. Left fielder Griffin Conine caught the rebound and threw the ball back to the infield as Ozuna completed his celebratory run around the bases. The review confirmed the home run. Olson followed with his first homer, a shot to right field that carried 434 feet.

The Braves' momentum continued in the later innings, with two runs in the seventh and a remarkable five runs in the eighth. Schwellenbach's impressive control, throwing only 26 balls in eight innings, was a key factor in the Braves' victory. Of his 99 pitches, 73 were strikes, and he did not walk a single batter. As the Braves look to continue their winning streak, the audience can look forward to right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver's performance against the Marlins right-hander Cal Quantrill, both pitchers eager for their first wins.