In a thrilling encounter that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning, the Atlanta Braves secured a dramatic 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the 11th inning, thanks to a two-run walk-off homer from Marcell Ozuna. The game, which was delayed for 2 hours and 45 minutes due to rain, saw a resilient Braves team fight back after trailing in the extra innings.
As the clock ticked past midnight, Ozuna’s heroics came at a crucial moment for the Braves, who were desperately seeking to turn around their struggling season. With the victory, Atlanta improved its record to 3-8, while the Phillies fell to 8-4 after having started the season strong.
The game began on Thursday, April 10, 2025, and after a lengthy rain delay, both teams returned to the field with the score tied at 1-1. The Braves had taken the initial lead in the first inning when Matt Olson drove in Austin Riley with a groundout. However, the Phillies equalized in the third inning when Kyle Schwarber blasted his sixth home run of the season, a 429-foot shot that tied the game.
Both starting pitchers, Spencer Schwellenbach for the Braves and Jesús Luzardo for the Phillies, delivered solid performances. Schwellenbach allowed just one run on seven hits over six innings, striking out five and ending his impressive scoreless innings streak at 16 when Schwarber homered. Luzardo, on the other hand, also pitched six innings, giving up one run on six hits while fanning six batters.
As the game moved into extra innings, the tension mounted. In the top of the 11th, the Phillies took a 2-1 lead after Johan Rojas drew a bases-loaded walk. The Braves, however, showed their determination to fight back. Austin Riley doubled home Ozzie Albies to tie the game, setting the stage for Ozuna’s electrifying home run.
Ozuna’s walk-off blast sent the sparse crowd at Truist Park into a frenzy. The designated hitter, affectionately known as "The Big Bear," celebrated his second home run of the season, which was a much-needed boost for a player who has faced struggles early in the season. Ozuna is currently batting .316, making him the only Braves hitter above .275, a statistic that underscores the team’s offensive woes early in the year.
After the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker expressed his relief and excitement about the win, noting that the victory could serve as a catalyst for the team as they look to recover from a dismal start to the season. “We needed that,” Snitker said. “It was a long game, but the guys showed a lot of heart tonight.”
The Braves had previously started the season with an alarming 0-7 record, and no team in MLB history has ever made the postseason after such a poor start. The longest losing streak to begin a season while still making the playoffs was held by the 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates, who started 0-6. With this win, the Braves have a chance to build momentum as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Rays in their next series, hoping to snap their 0-7 road streak.
The Phillies, despite the loss, will continue their six-game road trip with their next matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team will look to regroup and bounce back against the Cardinals, with Aaron Nola taking the mound.
This matchup between the Braves and Phillies highlighted the competitive nature of the National League East, where both teams are vying for postseason positions. As the season progresses, fans can expect more thrilling encounters between these two rivals.
In summary, Marcell Ozuna’s walk-off home run not only secured a much-needed victory for the Atlanta Braves but also reignited hope for a team eager to turn its early-season struggles around. The Braves will now look to build on this momentum as they head into their next series, while the Phillies will aim to bounce back quickly from this disappointing defeat.
