Blue Jays Soar Past Braves, Sending Atlanta Out of Playoff Picture

Toronto's Spencer Horwitz hit two home runs, Jose Berrios pitched six strong innings, and the Blue Jays defeated the Atlanta Braves 9-5 on Saturday, knocking Atlanta out of playoff contention.

With just 20 games remaining, the Braves fell behind the New York Mets, who defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-0.

"We have 20 games left to play," said Braves manager Brian Snitker. "All we have to do right now is win the next game."

Berrios (15-9) allowed one run, five hits, and one walk, establishing a new career-high in wins for a single season. He struck out five batters.

"I finally reached that 15-win plateau," Berríos said. "The only thing better than winning is winning again.

"As a team, when we win, it's fun. I'm going to celebrate every win, and it's a big accomplishment for me and for the team too."

Horwitz finished with four hits. He opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning and made it 2-0 with his second blast in the fourth. It was the second time he hit more than one homer in a game. He drove in three runs.

Spencer Schwellenbach (6-6) gave up six runs, three earned, and 10 hits in five innings. It was the first time in 26 starts that a Braves starter allowed more than three runs.

It was Schwellenbach's worst outing in 11 starts. The right-hander had posted an ERA under three since the beginning of July.

"It's a daily grind," Schwellenbach said. "I've never thrown this many innings in my life. But I do everything I can to recover, train, and go to the weight room. Every five days, you have to be ready to go to the mound."

After Horwitz's second home run, Ernie Clement and Joey Loperfido hit back-to-back RBI doubles to make it 4-0 in the fourth inning. Horwitz hit an RBI double and scored on a Will Wagner grounder to make it 6-0 in the fifth.

"It's a learning experience for him (Schwellenbach) that he's going to learn from," Snitker said. "He's creating things that he can learn from going forward. If he keeps throwing strikes, it's going to be a lot easier."

The Blue Jays extended their lead to 9-1 with three runs in the top of the ninth. Nathan Luke drove in a run with a single, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored on a fielder's choice, and Wagner drove in a run with a single.

In the bottom of the ninth, Jarred Kelenic hit an RBI single. The Braves loaded the bases on a single by Orlando Garcia, and Luke Williams followed with a two-run double. Blue Jays reliever Luis Frias was pulled after just one-third of an inning.

Brandon Little then gave up a groundout to Michael Harris II that made it 9-5, but got Travis d'Arnaud on another groundout to end the game.

The Key to Berrios' Success

Berrios' performance was a major reason for the Blue Jays' win. He was able to keep the Braves' hitters off balance with a mix of fastballs, sliders, and changeups. Berrios' ability to locate his pitches was particularly impressive, as he only walked one batter.

"I was able to throw all of my pitches for strikes," Berrios said. "When I can do that, I'm a tough pitcher to hit."

Berrios' success was also due in part to the strong defense behind him. The Blue Jays made several key plays in the field, including a couple of double plays, to keep the Braves from scoring more runs.

"The defense played great tonight," Berrios said. "They really helped me out there."

Horwitz's Big Night

Horwitz had a career night, setting a new career-high with four hits, including two home runs. He also drove in three runs.

"I was seeing the ball really well tonight," Horwitz said. "I felt confident at the plate and I was able to put some good swings on the ball."

Horwitz's performance was a major boost for the Blue Jays, who have been struggling to score runs consistently.

"He's a great player," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "He's got a lot of talent and he's a good kid. He's going to be a big part of this team going forward."

What's Next?

The Blue Jays will look to continue their winning ways on Sunday when they take on the Braves in the second game of the series. The Braves will be looking to bounce back from their loss and avoid being swept.

This game will be crucial for both teams as the season winds down. The Blue Jays will be looking to solidify their playoff position, while the Braves will be looking to stay in the race for a wild card spot.

The Blue Jays are now 11 games over .500 and are in a strong position to make the playoffs. The Braves, on the other hand, are now 5 games under .500 and their playoff hopes are fading fast.