PHOENIX — Chris Sale outdueled Zac Gallen with 5⅓ solid innings, Adam Duvall hit a three-run homer and the Atlanta Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.
Duvall connected for his three-run shot in the sixth, extending Atlanta’s lead to 5-0. The 441-foot homer was launched deep into the left field seats, ending Gallen’s night in frustration.
“We’re getting some timely hits,” Duvall said. “Tonight, we had runners on a lot. So we were definitely putting some pressure on and hopefully we can continue to do that.”
It was a good moment in a tough season for Duvall, who came into the game hitting just .184 with seven homers.
Sale (12-3) labored through his first inning, walking Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno to load the bases with two outs. But he coaxed a groundout from Jake McCarthy to end the threat.
The next four innings were considerably easier before the lefty ran into trouble in the sixth, giving up a single by Moreno before McCarthy’s RBI triple. Sale — who leads MLB with 12 wins — gave up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine.
“Tonight was a grind,” Sale said. “Once I got out of that first inning I was like, ‘Alright, let’s take a deep breath, refocus and get back to it.'”
The 35-year-old has bounced back from several injury-riddled seasons to be one of the best pitchers in the big leagues this year. He’ll represent the Braves on the National League All-Star team next week.
Sale is expected to pitch for Atlanta again Sunday, which means he almost certainly won’t be available to pitch in the All-Star Game two days later July 16. Considering this is his eighth All-Star appearance, Sale said that wasn’t a problem.
“The most important thing is this team and winning games for this team,” Sale said. “We’ve got our eyes on the prize and that’s the most important thing.”
Gallen (6-5) gave up five runs, including four earned. The right-hander gave up seven hits and a walk while striking out four.
“The gears were grinding the entire day,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I felt like Zac had really good stuff, but he got clipped for a couple runs and extended that pitch count.”
The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the second. Sean Murphy‘s RBI groundout brought home Marcell Ozuna for the first run and then Atlanta took advantage of a defensive miscue when All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte dropped a line drive from Orlando Arcia that allowed Eddie Rosario to score.
Eli White had a pinch-hit, RBI triple in the seventh that gave Atlanta a 6-2 lead. Duvall, Ozuna and Jarred Kelenic all had two hits. Jesse Chavez threw 2⅔ scoreless innings of relief.
“What Jesse did, coming in and doing multiple [innings] like that, that’s how we win,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.