ATLANTA (AP) — Spencer Schwellenbach kept Shohei Ohtani in the park and off the bases, while Gio Urshela and Jorge Soler went deep for the Atlanta Braves in a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on a damp Friday night.
Ohtani was hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts, putting a hold on his quest to become the first player in major league history with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season. He was 0 for 3 against Schwellenbach (6-7) before striking out on a rising, 95 mph fastball from Joe Jiménez that was well out of the zone.
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández (37) celebrates his double against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) watches a fly ball from the dugoput in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman (25) makes the catch for an out off the batt of Atlanta Braves' Ramón Laureano inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson (28) celebrates his RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) sits in the dugout in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Bravess, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas (11) celebrates his solo homer with Shohei Ohtani (17) in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson (28) hits an RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) stikes out in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, right, celebrates a win with catcher Travis d'Arnaud after a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (56) speaks with catcher Travis d'Arnaud on the mound in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
“What he’s doing is incredible,” Schwellenbach said. “If he’s gonna do it, he’s gonna do it. I'm just going out there and trying to get him out.”
The Dodgers star is at 47 homers and 48 stolen bases with 15 games left in the regular season.
Schwellenbach, who started the season in the Class A Sally League, surrendered two runs on four hits in six strong innings. He bounced back from a rough start in his last outing, when he gave up 10 hits and six runs (three earned) against Toronto.
“Nothing seems to bother him,” manager Brian Snitker said. “He keeps the game slowed down. It doesn’t seem to speed up on him, which is awesome.”
Atlanta remained a game behind the Mets for the NL's final wild-card spot. New York won 11-3 at division-leading Philadelphia.
“We're in scoreboard-watching territory,” Snitker said. “But we are focused on what we can do. We can only do what we can do.”
The Dodgers came in with five-game lead over Arizona in the NL West. LA's magic number was 11 to clinch their 12th division title in the last 13 years.
Los Angeles also started a rookie, Landon Knack, who didn't fare nearly as well as Schwellenbach on a night where showers sent fans scattering for cover a couple of times but never halted play.
Knack (2-4) was rocked in two innings of work, giving up seven hits, five runs, two homers and two walks. Of the six hitters he retired, two of them hit towering flies that were caught at the wall in center field.
After Matt Olson put the home team ahead with a run-scoring double in the first, Atlanta poured it on in the second as Urshela and Soler both hit two-run homers to make it 5-0.
Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth in a non-save situation to extend his scoreless streak to 35 1/3 innings.
Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna had three hits, including the 1,500th of his career.
Miguel Rojas hit a solo homer for Los Angeles. But the top three in the Dodgers order — Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — went 0 for 11.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (9-6, 3.49 ERA) had a potentially major setback in his recovery from an ailing elbow. The right-hander was supposed to pitch a simulated game, but the session was cut short while warming up in the bullpen when he felt pain in his arm. Glasnow went on the 15-day injured list Aug. 16 in what was described as more of a precautionary move. Now, the Dodgers are concerned that the injury is more serious.
Braves: 2B Whit Merrifield returned to the lineup one week after a foul ball left him with a fractured left foot. He beat out an infield hit in his first at-bat. ... 2B Ozzie Albies (fractured wrist) is hoping to return in the next week or so, but not as a switch-hitter. Albies told reporters he would only bat right-handed to help deal with lingering discomfort in his wrist. which has kept him off the field longer than expected. ... C Travis d’Arnaud was reinstated from the paternity list.
UP NEXT
LH Chris Sales (16-3, 2.38) gets the start for Atlanta on Saturday night, going for his MLB-leading 17th win. Sale hasn't been charged with a loss since June 27. The Dodgers will counter with RH Jack Flaherty (12-6, 2.86), who is 5-1 in seven starts since being acquired from Detroit.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández (37) celebrates his double against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) watches a fly ball from the dugoput in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman (25) makes the catch for an out off the batt of Atlanta Braves' Ramón Laureano inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson (28) celebrates his RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) sits in the dugout in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Bravess, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas (11) celebrates his solo homer with Shohei Ohtani (17) in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson (28) hits an RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) stikes out in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, right, celebrates a win with catcher Travis d'Arnaud after a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (56) speaks with catcher Travis d'Arnaud on the mound in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — As many in the entertainment industry navigate the devastating effects of the California wildfires, some will soon be decamping to cleaner air in the mountains. The annual Sundance Film Festival begins Thursday in Park City, Utah.
The 41st edition of Robert Redford’s brainchild will, as always, be a year of discovery and discussion. There are timely films:
— “Free Leonard Peltier,” which will premiere just days after former President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of the Indigenous activist nearly half a century after he was imprisoned for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.
— Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov’s“2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a joint production between The Associated Press and Frontline about an attempt to liberate an occupied territory in Ukraine
— Several films about trans rights including “Heightened Scrutiny,” about civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio. It's a topic even more pressing after President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday rolling back protections for transgender people.
There are even some controversies brewing: “The Stringer,” from documentary filmmaker Bao Nguyen, calls into question who took the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Napalm Girl” photograph. Retired AP photographer Nick Ut and the AP, which conducted a six-month investigation into the allegation, are contesting it vigorously and lawyers have asked for it to be pulled from the program.
“The film is an investigation,” said Eugene Hernandez, the director of the festival, who is moving forward with plans to screen it. “I think it will be a really important conversation that will come out over the next few days after the film is seen by more people.”
Don’t worry, it’s not all heavy. There’s drama of course, even a film about starting over after a fire (“Rebuilding,” with Josh O’Connor), horror, satire, literary adaptations, comedy, documentaries about famous faces, and some that simply defy categorization.
“There’s some really funny stuff in the program,” Hernandez said. One of those Hernandez cited is “Bubble & Squeak,” about a married couple accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where they’re banned.
For first time filmmakers, Sundance can be their chance to break through in a big way. That happened last year for “Dìdi” filmmaker Sean Wang. Some films that debuted last January are still in the awards conversation, like “A Real Pain” and “A Different Man.” For actors, the festival is both a casual respite to awards season glitz (snow boots are more likely on red carpets than high heels) and can be a chance to show audiences a new dimension of their talent.
“It’s a strong year of renewal for our artist community,” Hernandez said. “And we have a lot of really great voices and stories that we get to unveil in the coming days.”
Here’s everything you need to know:
Sundance runs from Jan. 23 through Feb. 2. There are about 90 features premiering across the 11 days, with screenings starting early in the morning through midnight. Award-winners will be announced on Jan. 31.
Stars with films premiering include Jennifer Lopez, Benedict Cumberbatch, Diego Luna, Conan O’Brien, Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Ayo Edebiri, Olivia Colman, André Holland, Steven Yeun, Mark Ruffalo, Bowen Yang, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Lily Gladstone, Dev Patel, Emily Watson, John Lithgow, Marlee Matlin, John Malkovich, Rose Byrne, Chloë Sevigny, Josh O’Connor, Ben Whishaw, Dylan O’Brien, Lili Reinhart and Willem Dafoe.
One of the greatest things about Sundance is that it’s often the under-the-radar movies that become the breakouts.
But some of the higher-profile premieres going into the festival include: Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider-Woman,” starring Lopez; Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s documentary “SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)”; “Opus,” a horror about the cult of celebrity with Edebiri and John Malkovich; Andrew Ahn’s “The Wedding Banquet,” with Bowen Yang and Kelly Marie Tran; the war satire “Atropia,” with Alia Shawkat; “Pee-wee as Himself,” about the late Paul Reubens; “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore”; and Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman’s doc “The Alabama Solution,” about a cover-up in one of America’s most notorious prison systems.
Festival organizers have been in dialogue with filmmakers, staff, audiences and donors about the effects of the fires, supporting and accommodating where possible including pushing back deadlines to allow filmmakers more time to finish. The festival will also have a QR code displayed before screenings for information on sharing resources or contributing to relief efforts.
“As hard as the last week has been, this will be a moment to come together,” Hernandez said. “The community’s really responding to support those who need it most right now. I think that’s going to be a profound aspect of this year’s festival.”
For the most part, yes. Starting in 2027 the festival will no longer be primarily based in Park City. It may stay in Utah but would operate mainly out of Salt Lake City. Other finalists are Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sundance Institute is expected to announce its final decision in the first quarter of 2025.
“Park City as the home of Sundance is such a special place,” Hernandez said. “I look at it optimistically because we have two more exciting years in this current configuration. I think we’re going to make the most of those two years and make them as memorable and meaningful as we can.”
Access to the movies premiering at Sundance doesn’t necessary require an expensive trip to Park City anymore. The festival has fully embraced an online component for many of their films.
What started as a necessary COVID-19 adjustment has become a vital part of the program. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 2, audiences can stream much of the program online. Prices start at $35 for a single film ticket and go up to $800 for unlimited access.
Otherwise, films that secure distribution can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year to hit theaters or streaming services. Steven Soderbergh's “Presence,” which premiered last January, is just hitting theaters this week.
For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
The marquee of the Egyptian Theatre is shown Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)