Tonight’s game was the biggest, most important game of the season for the Braves.  It may not have been a literal “must win” game; it would still be possible to make the playoffs with a loss.  Possible, but barely so—the playoff hopes would be hanging by the slimmest of threads. 

But with a win, you’re right back in the thick of the race, down just one game to the Mets, and no more than a game and a half behind the Diamondbacks.  So, yeah, it’s hard to imagine a much bigger game. 

And how did our guys respond?  With maybe their best game of the season.

Let’s start with Spencer Schwellenbach.  Schwelly tossed seven masterful innings, allowing just three hits and a lone run, throwing just 87 pitches.  PDQ is one of the most impressive rookie pitchers I’ve ever seen.  His command of multiple pitches, his demeanor, his savvy, are just extraordinary.  He’s certainly one of the most improbable guys to be in this position, starring in the biggest game of the year.  Y’all are aware of his extremely limited experience as a starting pitcher.  I still can’t fathom how he shows such mastery of the craft. 

(By the way, JonathanF, for much of this season Spencer pitched on your Fridays, causing you to give him the nickname Shabbas Schwellenbach. More recently, I’ve had the pleasure of recapping his starts on Tuesdays. If I have the Hebrew right, that would make him Shlishi Schwellenbach.)

The offense continued its recent rejuvenation.  Michael Harris II led the way with a single, double, and a homer.  The Big Bear also went yard, making this just the second time in Atlanta Braves history that they have hit multiple homers in seven straight games.  (How did they not accomplish this feat last year?)

The Braves got on the board in the third inning.  Arcia led off with slow roller down the third base line. He was going to beat it out anyway, but Severino made a wild throw that allowed Orlando to take second (catcher Alvarez deserved an assist on that error, as he ran into the pitcher as he fielded it)).  A double to right by MHII scored the first run, and an opposite field ground ball single by Ozzie plated Harris.  Ozzie alertly took second when the throw to the plate missed the cutoff man.  Ozzie then aggressively took third on a slow grounder to short by Ozuna.  Olson walked on a 3-2 pitch, so runners on the corners with one out.

But Soler struck out looking on a sweeper that caught the inside corner.  (What is it with these sweepers this year? Everyone is throwing one.) Another failure to plate a runner on third with two outs.  They had already stranded a runner on third in the first, and you had to wonder if once again wasted opportunities would catch up with them. But this time the luck turns! Laureano fisted a weak grounder that found its way through the right side, scoring the third run.  Money Mike’s solo shot in the fourth (420 feet to the opposite field!) and El Oso Grande’s in the fifth pushed the lead to 5-0. For good measure, Harris also showed off his glove. He made a diving grab of a liner off the bat of Luisangel Acuna that Andruw Jones would have been proud of.

Five runs was a lot more than Schwellenbach needed. He was simply masterful, shutting them out until a Nimmer solo home run in the seventh.  Jimenez and Iglesias did their thing in the 8th and the 9th. I’m not sure folks appreciate how terrific those two have been at the back of the pen.

So, how ‘bout them Braves!  They are indeed right in the thick of a pennant race.  And they have Sale and Fried lined up for the next two against the Mets.  What must it be like to be a Mets fan, with memories of this time of year in 2022 fresh in their minds?

One wrinkle there.  Hurricane Helene is currently forecast to bring torrential rains to Atlanta by Thursday.  Given the current track of the storm, it’s hard to imagine getting the third game of this series in.  But if, as seems likely, that lost game could impact playoff eligibility for either or both teams, we could be looking at a makeup next Monday.

But let’s take it one day at a time.  The Braves move into a tie with the Mets, and win the season tie-breaker, with a win tomorrow behind Cy Sale.