Travis d’Arnaud slugs his second HR of the game: The Braves’ second home run of the game comes via a solo shot by Travis d’Arnaud.
SAN DIEGO, CA In Sunday’s game before the All-Star break, 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 had two home runs and four RBI.
After losing six of its previous seven games to close out the first half, San Diego was defeated by Atlanta, who has won six of its last nine games.
The Braves were 8 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in second place in the NL East at the end of the first half, 53-42.
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 6 1/2 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.
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.
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.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: RHP Ian Anderson (Tommy John surgery) made his fifth rehab start on July 12, throwing 60 pitches across 4-1/3 innings High-A Rome. Anderson is making his way back from the April 2023 surgery.
Padres: RHP Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) has his first bullpen session scheduled for July 17. He was placed on the 60-day IL in early June.
UP NEXT
Atlanta hosts St. Louis on Friday. The Padres open the second half with an interleague series in Cleveland.
