NEW YORK — Spencer Schwellenbach struck out a career-best 11 over seven dominant innings of two-hit ball, and the Atlanta Braves stopped a six-game losing streak Saturday with a 4-0 victory against the New York Mets.
''I'm a confident person. I expect to throw good every time I get the ball and I think that's why I've had success. I'm not surprised by it,'' Schwellenbach said. ''That was needed more than ever and I kind of dug a little bit deeper today.''
Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson hit back-to-back homers in the fourth after Mets starter Tylor Megill retired the first 11 batters in his return from the minors. Orlando Arcia added an RBI single in the fifth after a leadoff walk to catcher Sean Murphy, and Eddie Rosario went deep against Megill (2-5) leading off the seventh.
Atlanta moved back ahead of the Mets for second place in the NL East and the league's top wild card. The banged-up Braves halted their longest skid since a six-game slide in September 2017 — the final week of Brian Snitker's first full season as manager. They haven't dropped seven in a row since August 2016.
''Probably an understatement that we needed a win today,'' Snitker said.
Schwellenbach (4-5) completely shut down a red-hot Mets lineup as the Braves ended New York's five-game winning streak. He walked none and threw 62 of 89 pitches for strikes in his 10th major league start.
''His fastball was the hardest I think it's been all year,'' Mets slugger J.D. Martinez said. ''His stuff was moving everywhere. ... He had everything going.''
Snitker was asked if he thought about letting the 24-year-old Schwellenbach pitch the eighth.