SAN DIEGO (AP) — Travis d’Arnaud had two home runs and four RBIs, Chris Sale pitched five solid innings for his major league-leading 13th win and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Sunday in the final game before the All-Star break.
"He had a big day," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of d'Arnaud, who also had his third stolen base in his 12-year major league career.
Of Sale, Snitker added: "Talking to him, he was good with just going the five, which I think worked out pretty good. I am really glad we hung on and got him the win."
Atlanta has won six of its last nine games and took two of three from San Diego, which ended the first half by losing six of its last seven.
“We faced some pretty good pitching,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the Braves. “That's a good opportunity for us, and I thought our at-bats were good again.”
The Braves finished the first half 53-42 and in second place in the NL East, nine games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
“We have done a good job of riding this thing out and staying relevant. I like where we are," Snitker said. “Under the circumstances we have done a really good job of battling through the adversities and hanging in there. ... I still think our best baseball is ahead of us.”
The Padres concluded the first half 50-49 and tied for second place in the NL West with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both teams trail the Dodgers by seven games.
Sale (13-3), an All-Star, gave up one run and four hits. He has won five of his last six starts.
“We had a great series here this weekend. Hopefully we come back after the break and take some days off and regenerate,” Sale said. “I kind of noticed their (Padres) approach. They were not waiting for anything. It seemed like they were very aggressive early in the count.”
San Diego starter Randy Vásquez (2-5) lasted five innings, giving up two runs and four hits.
“I thought overall (Vásquez) was good,” Shildt said. “Just couldn't get to d'Arnaud on a breaking ball.”
D'Arnaud's three-run homer in the sixth off San Diego reliever Stephen Kolek gave Atlanta a 5-1 lead. His solo homer in the eighth off San Diego reliver Jeremiah Estrada was hit in nearly the identical spot in center field to give the Braves a 6-3 lead.
"I knew I barreled them," d'Arnaud said of his homers, which were 445 and 431 feet. “I was able to see the ball really well.”
Pinch-hitter Luis Campusano hit a two-run homer to the opposite field against Braves reliever A.J. Minter in the seventh. Trailing 5-3 in the inning with two outs, the Padres stranded two runners as Manny Machado lined out against reliever Joe Jimenez.
Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 22nd save.
The Padres took a short-lived 1-0 lead in the first inning after Xander Bogaerts singled in Donovan Solano from third. Two batters later with runners on second and third base and two outs, Braves third baseman Austin Riley likely saved two runs with a diving snag of a sizzling grounder in the hole to throw Ha-Seong Kim out to end the inning.
“I think that saved the game,” Sale said. “It should have 3-0 right there and that changes the entire landscape of the game, for sure....That was big.”
