d'Arnaud hits two homers, drives in 4 runs in Atlanta 6-3 win over San Diego

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.

Atlanta has won six of its last nine games and took two of three from San Diego, which ended the first half losing by losing six of its last seven.

The Braves finished the first half 53-42 and in second place in the NL East, 8 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.

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 6 1/2 games.

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

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

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.

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.

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.