Spencer Schwellenbach's 12 Ks and Sean Murphy's grand slam led the Braves to a 6-1 win over the Phillies on June 29, 2025, snapping their scoring slump.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
After two straight games without a single run, Braves Country was getting restless. But on Sunday, Spencer Schwellenbach and Sean Murphy delivered a resounding answer. The rookie right-hander was simply untouchable, mowing down Phillies with a career-high 12 strikeouts, while Murphy blasted the team's first grand slam of 2025 to power a much-needed 6-1 victory and snap the frustrating offensive skid.
Spencer Schwellenbach delivered a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits.
Just when the Braves' rotation woes seemed insurmountable, Spencer Schwellenbach put the team on his back. The rookie was in complete command, carving up the potent Phillies lineup for seven brilliant innings. He scattered just three hits and a walk while racking up 12 strikeouts, a new career-best. The Phillies' only run came on an Alec Bohm single in the sixth, a minor blemish on an otherwise masterful outing that saw Schwellenbach improve to 7-4 and give the bullpen a desperately needed rest.
For six innings, it felt like more of the same offensive frustration. But in the seventh, the dam finally broke. With the bases loaded, Sean Murphy stepped to the plate and launched a no-doubter for a grand slam, his 10th homer of the season. It was not only the decisive blow in the game but also the Braves' very first grand slam of the year, providing a massive jolt of energy. The offense showed other signs of life, too, with Austin Riley collecting two hits and an RBI, and the ever-reliable Matt Olson extending his on-base streak to a career-high 29 games with a first-inning single.
While the win was a team effort, one key player watched from the dugout. Michael Harris II, mired in a season-long slump and hitting just .212, was given the day off. It was only his second missed start of the season, with Eli White taking over in center field. While White went 0-for-3, the hope is that a mental reset can help Money Mike get back to the form fans know he's capable of. His bat is a critical component for this lineup to fire on all cylinders.
Schwellenbach's dominance was a welcome sight, but it doesn't erase the grim reality facing the pitching staff. With Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and AJ Smith-Shawver all on the injured list, the rotation is hanging on by a thread. This crisis has intensified the scrutiny on the Braves' farm system, which has been criticized for its inability to produce MLB-ready starting pitchers despite years of draft focus. While Ronald Acuña Jr.'s MVP-level return has been a huge boost, the team's championship aspirations hinge on the front office finding a way to patch the massive holes in the rotation.
Today was a massive sigh of relief. A dominant pitching performance, a clutch grand slam, and a win against a division rival are exactly what the doctor ordered. But one brilliant start doesn't fix a decimated rotation. Was Schwellenbach's gem a sign of him turning a corner into a reliable anchor, or just a temporary bandage? With the trade deadline looming and the farm system under a microscope, the front office's next moves will determine whether this team can truly contend or if they'll be fighting uphill all season long. For one day, at least, the Braves looked like the Braves again.
