d’Arnaud hits two homers, drives in 4 runs in Atlanta’s 6-3 win over San Diego | National Sports

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Travis d’Arnaud had two homers and four RBIs, Chris Sale pitched five strong innings for his major league-high 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 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 about settling for five points, which I think worked out pretty well. I’m really pleased we held on and got him the win.”

Atlanta has won six of its last nine games and has won two of three against San Diego, which finished the first half losing six of its last seven.

“We faced some really good pitching,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said of the Braves. “It’s a good opportunity for us, and I thought our at-bats were good again.”

The Braves finished the first half of the season with a 53-42 record and sit second in the NL East, nine games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.

“We’ve done a good job of overcoming that and staying in the race. I like where we are,” Snitker said. “Under the circumstances we’ve had, we’ve done a really good job of battling through adversity and staying in the game. … I still think our best baseball is ahead of us.”

The Padres finished the first half of the season 50-49 and are tied for second place in the NL West with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both teams are seven games behind the Dodgers.

Sale (13-3), an All-Star, allowed one run and four hits. He has won five of his last six starts.

“We had a great run here this weekend. Hopefully we can come back after the break and take a couple of days off to rejuvenate,” Sale said. “I noticed their (Padres’) approach. They weren’t expecting anything. They seemed very aggressive early in the count.”

San Diego starter Randy Vásquez (2-5) lasted five innings, allowing two runs and four hits.

“I thought overall (Vásquez) was good,” Shildt said. “He just couldn’t get to d’Arnaud on a breaking ball.”

D’Arnaud’s three-run home run in the sixth inning off San Diego reliever Stephen Kolek gave Atlanta a 5-1 lead. His solo home run in the eighth inning off San Diego reliever Jeremiah Estrada was hit to nearly the same spot in center field to give the Braves a 6-3 lead.

“I knew I hit it hard,” d’Arnaud said of his home runs, which reached 445 and 431 feet. “I could see the ball really well.”

Pinch-hitter Luis Campusano hit a two-run home run to the opposite field off Braves reliever AJ Minter in the seventh inning. Trailing 5-3 in the inning with two outs, the Padres left two runners on when Manny Machado was thrown out against reliever Joe Jimenez.

Atlanta relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 22nd save.

The Padres took a narrow 1-0 lead in the first inning after Xander Bogaerts singled to Donovan Solano from third base. Two batters later, with runners on second and third and two outs, Braves third baseman Austin Riley likely saved two runs by diving to catch a hot grounder in the hole and strike out Ha-Seong Kim to end the inning.

“I think it saved the game,” Sale said. “It should have been 3-0 at that point and it changed the game for sure… It was huge.”

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Braves: Right-handed pitcher Ian Anderson (Tommy John surgery) made his fifth rehab start on July 12, throwing 60 pitches in 4 1/3 innings in High-A Rome. Anderson is back after surgery in April 2023.

Padres: Right-handed starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) is scheduled to have his first workout July 17. He was placed on the 60-day injured list in early June.

FOLLOWING

Atlanta hosts St. Louis on Friday. The Padres open the second half of the season with an interleague series at Cleveland.

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