d’Arnaud leads the Braves over the Padres with two home runs and four RBI.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — In the last game before the All-Star break on Sunday, the Atlanta Braves defeated the San Diego Padres 6-3. Chris Sale pitched five strong innings for his major league-leading 13th win, while Travis d’Arnaud hit two home runs and four RBIs.

D’Arnaud, who has played in 12 major league seasons, also recorded his third stolen base of the season. “He had a big day,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

“Talking to him, he was good with just going the five, which I think worked out pretty good,” Snitker continued on Sale. I’m really happy we persevered and gave him the victory.”

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.”

After leading the first half 50-49, the Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks were tied for second place in the NL West. Both groups are seven games behind the Dodgers.
The All-Star pitcher Sale (13-3) surrendered four hits and one run. Out of his last six starts, he has won five.

This past weekend, we had an amazing series here. After the break, perhaps, we’ll return, take a few days off, and regroup,” Sale stated. “I observed the Padres’ approach in a vague way. They had nothing to wait for. They appeared to be acting very combatively in the beginning of the count.

Randy Vázquez (2-5) of San Diego started the game and went five innings, giving up two runs and four hits.

Atlanta led 5-1 after D’Arnaud hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning against San Diego reliever Stephen Kolek. With the Braves leading 6-3, he blasted a single home run in the eighth inning against San Diego reliver Jeremiah Estrada, almost exactly in the same position in center field.

“I knew I barreled them,” d’Arnaud remarked of his two home runs, measuring 445 and 431 feet, respectively. “I had excellent vision for the ball.”

Braves reliever A.J. Minter allowed pinch-hitter Luis Campusano to blast a two-run home run to opposite field in the seventh inning. With two outs in the eighth and trailing 5-3, Manny Machado lined out against reliever Joe Jimenez, leaving the Padres behind by two runs.

Raisel Iglesias, the closer for Atlanta, recorded his 22nd save in a scoreless ninth inning.

In the first inning, Donovan Solano was doubled in by Xander Bogaerts, giving the Padres a brief 1-0 lead. After two innings with runners on second and third base and two outs, Braves third baseman Austin Riley probably saved two runs when he threw out Ha-Seong Kim to close the inning by diving to snare a scorching grounder in the hole.

Sale stated, “I believe that kept the game alive.” “That should be 3-0 right there, and that definitely alters the whole complexion of the game.That was significant.

ROOM FOR TRAINER

RHP is brave. On July 12, Ian Anderson (Tommy John surgery) started his fifth rehabilitation game for High-A Rome, hurling 60 pitches over 4-1/3 innings. Anderson is returning from his surgery in April 2023.
Parents: RHP July 17 is Joe Musgrove’s first bullpen session (right elbow inflammation). Early in June, he was put on a 60-day intermission.