Atlanta, GA
Spencer Schwellenbach tames the Tigers in 2-1 Braves win
Two runs ended up being enough for the Atlanta Braves to win once again. While this may not have been as dramatic as last night’s contest was, the result was just as sweet as Spencer Schwellenbach and the rest of Atlanta’s pitching staff held the Detroit Tigers at bay on their way to a 2-1 series victory.
For a moment, there were strong 2023 vibes in this one as the Braves wasted no time getting going in this one. Following a scoreless first inning pitched by Spencer Schwellenbach, Atlanta immediately got off to a good start at the plate as Jarred Kelenic started the game with a leadoff single and then Ozzie Albies electrified the crowd at Truist Park by taking the sixth pitch he saw from Casey Mize and smacking it up the right field line for an RBI triple. Marcell Ozuna continued his run as the top hitter in Atlanta’s lineup this season by cashing in Ozzie from third base with a single into left field to make it 2-0.
It would’ve been understandable to believe that the halcyon days of 2023 were on their way after Atlanta had scored two first-inning runs without picking up an out in the process. Instead, the Braves went down in order from that point forward and the two runs were all that Atlanta could muster at that point.
From that point forward, all eyes were on rookie Spencer Schwellenbach since it became apparent with each out in the middle portion of this contest that the offense was probably done for the night. The onus was placed squarely on Schwellenbach to keep Detroit quiet and make the lead hold up and fortunately for the Braves, Schwellenbach was indeed up for the challenge. Aside from a 1-2-3 inning in the third inning, Schwellenbach had to deal with at least one baserunner in every inning that he worked. This wasn’t smooth sailing for the night but again, Schwellenbach was up for the challenge of keeping the Tigers from doing any type of serious damage.
Detroit’s best chance came in the sixth inning, which was the end of the road for Spencer Schwellenbach. Riley Greene led off the sixth with a triple that was honestly fortunate for Schwellenbach that it stayed inside of the park. It ended up being a run for Detroit anyways, as Gio Urshela eventually came through for Detroit with an out on the board by poking one through the hole between the third baseman and the shortstop for an RBI single that put the Tigers on the board. That was all Detroit could manage to put past the plate, though, as Schwellenbach clamped down and got a ground out and a strikeout to end the threat for the Tigers while also ending his night on a high note.
Ultimately, Schwellenbach finished the night with six innings pitched, two walks and three hits allowed with just that one run conceded along with seven strikeouts. This was exactly what the Braves needed and it was definitely encouraging to see Schwellenbach pick up where he left off against Baltimore and deliver another solid performance on the mound.
As far as Atlanta’s lineup was concerned, this was another quiet night at the plate for the Braves as they collected four of the five hits that they would get on the night in the first two innings of this game. Fortunately for the Braves, the pitching staff was once again able to make their meager run support hold up. Pierce Johnson was the first reliever to enter this game for Atlanta and he only gave up one hit in a scoreless seventh to keep the lead alive for the Braves. Joe Jiménez followed that up in the eighth inning as also gave up a lone hit in the process of keeping the Tigers off of the board.
That meant that it was up to Raisel Iglesias to finish the Tigers off in this one. While it may have been understandable for a few fans to get a bit nervy after Iglesias’ most recent outing didn’t exactly go well, there was nothing to be concerned about tonight. Iglesias faced the bottom of Detroit’s order and acted like he was facing the bottom of the order as he quickly sat down Justyn-Henry Malloy, Zach McKinstry and Carson Kelly in 1-2-3 fashion to end the game. This was the second straight 2-1 win for the Braves over the Tigers, giving them the series win in the process and also putting them in the 40-win club for 2024, to boot.
While Atlanta’s offense may have been nothing to write home about, it was another great night on the mound for the hurlers. Spencer Schwellenbach more-than held his own in this one and the bullpen continued to be solid as the entire pitching staff did well to make the two runs hold up in victory. The Braves will now be leaving town tomorrow evening hot off the heels of a successful homestand that saw them win both series — Now they’ll be going for the sweep in the getaway day game tomorrow, which is set to start at 12:20 P.M. E.T.
Omari James. Photos provided by Atlanta police
ATLANTA – Atlanta police are asking for the public’s help locating 11-year-old Omari James, who has been classified as critically missing.
What we know:
Investigators said Omari ran away from his home around 9:30 p.m. Thursday after getting into an argument with his parents over his cell phone.
Police said Omari was last seen wearing a black shirt, red, white and blue shorts, black Nike slides and a Nike ski hat.
What you can do:
Anyone who has seen Omari or knows where he may be is asked to call 911 or contact the Atlanta Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. The investigation remains ongoing.
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Secretary of State opens investigation into voter registration mailers sent to deceased residents
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Thursday that his office has opened an investigation into Ready to Register and other third-party organizations after reports that voter registration mailers were sent to deceased Georgians and other ineligible recipients.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, election officials have received numerous complaints about voter registration solicitations being mailed to people who have died. In one unusual case cited by the office, a deceased family dog reportedly received one of the mailers.
State officials said they are reviewing whether the mailings violate Georgia law or otherwise undermine confidence in the state’s election system.
The Secretary of State’s Office said third-party voter registration groups frequently conduct mass mail campaigns ahead of major elections but often rely on commercial databases that can contain outdated or inaccurate information, unlike Georgia’s official voter registration system.
“Groups like this highlight the unreliability of commercial data,” Raffensperger said in a statement. “Georgia maintains one of the cleanest voter rolls in the nation through continuous list maintenance and citizenship verification. These outside organizations don’t use those standards. Instead, they flood mailboxes with inaccurate solicitations that confuse voters and waste election officials’ time.”
Raffensperger also thanked voters who alerted his office to the mailings.
“I want to thank the voters who have flagged the inaccurate mailings and sent them to our office,” he said. “Whether checking their ballots for accuracy or keeping their own registration information up to date, voters are a crucial line of defense in election security.”
Georgia officials said the issue mirrors problems recently identified in North Carolina, where election officials warned residents about similar mailings from Ready to Register. According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, North Carolina officials said the organization mailed registration forms to deceased individuals, used outdated forms, listed incorrect election office addresses and included QR codes that raised privacy concerns.
Raffensperger criticized the mass mailing campaigns, saying they create confusion while increasing the workload for local election offices.
“Whether intentional or simply reckless, these mail campaigns operate like a grift — raising money and generating activity while shifting the costs onto taxpayers, election officials, and voters,” Raffensperger said. “Georgia taxpayers should not have to clean up the mess created by organizations that prioritize volume over accuracy.”
The Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging Georgians to verify their voter registration through the state’s My Voter Page and says voters who are already registered at their current address should disregard unsolicited voter registration mailers.
Project aims to curb dengue by releasing millions of mosquitoes
Google-backed researchers are taking an unusual approach to fighting mosquito-borne diseases: releasing more mosquitoes. The effort, known as Debug, is designed to reduce populations of mosquitoes that spread illnesses such as dengue fever by using specially bred male mosquitoes that cannot produce viable offspring.
Fox – 35 Orlando
Mosquitoes in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta have tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to Fulton County health officials.
Fulton County Board of Health Environmental Health mosquito control staff say the mosquitoes were tested following trapping in Fulton County.
“Mosquitoes can be dangerous if infected and may pose a serious health risk to people in our area,” Environmental Health Director at the Fulton County Board of Health, Brandon Leftwich, said in a statement from the agency. “We want to make sure communities are aware and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.”
Grant Park is in southeast Atlanta, south of Old Fourth Ward and west of East Atlanta.
Here’s what to know.
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is the illness caused by infections from a pathogen in the Flaviviridae family. Mosquitoes are hosts for the pathogen, meaning they can spread it to people and other animals without dying.
It is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the contiguous United States, infecting more than 2,000 people each year. About 1,300 people develop a severe illness, and more than 130 people die annually in the U.S. from the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It spreads during mosquito season, or the period between June and October each year. Infections typically peak in late August and early September.
Many people infected may never show symptoms, and others will only experience mild, flu-like symptoms. It can take between 2 and 6 days after a mosquito bite to feel poorly, and then people may experience headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Those with mild illness can recover completely, but some fatigue and weakness can last much longer, even weeks or months.
In cases of severe illness, West Nile Virus attacks their central nervous system and can result in hospitalization or death. Patients may experience a very high fever, headaches, neck pain, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness and other serious symptoms. Recovery can take weeks or months, and some effects could become permanent.
How is West Nile Virus treated?
There is no medicine that can treat West Nile Virus, so those with mild symptoms can take over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen to manage pain, fever or headaches. Those with West Nile Virus should not take ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the CDC. Patients should stay hydrated and take lots of rest to let your body fight the virus and recover.
Those with severe illness may need intravenous fluids, pain medication and nursing care at the hospital level, though there is still no medication that can be taken to cure the infection.
It is believed that those who have been infected by West Nile Virus develop a lifelong immunity or protection, meaning they can’t get the virus again, according to the CDC.
How to prevent mosquito bites
Fulton County health officials recommend following the “5Ds of mosquito bite prevention” to keep yourself safe from mosquito-borne illnesses.
- Dusk/Dawn: Avoid being outside during periods when mosquitoes are most active, including in the early morning and as the sun is setting.
- Dress: Loose-fitting clothes and items with long sleeves or pants will reduce the amount of exposed skin for a mosquito bite and make it difficult for a mosquito to bite through clothes.
- DEET: Insect repellant should contain DEET. It is the most effective ingredient in mosquito repellant.
- Drain: Standing water is a great place for mosquitoes to breed, so make sure to dump out water from buckets, barrels, flowerpots and tarps outside that could harbor mosquito larvae. You should also cut overgrown grass or weeds.
- Doors: While it might be nice for a breeze to pass through your house in the evenings, make sure doors and windows are closed and sealed to keep mosquitoes out of the house.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
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