PHOENIX — Chris Sale defeated Zac Gallen with 5 1/3 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 victory.
Duvall hit his three-run shot in the sixth, extending Atlanta’s lead to 5-0. The 441-foot home run launched deep into the left field seats, ending Gallen’s night in frustration.
It was a good moment in a difficult season for Duvall, who entered the game batting just .184 with seven homers.
Sale (12-3) worked hard in its first inning, walking Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno to load the bases with two outs. But he persuaded 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 Moreno single 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.
The 35-year-old has bounced back from several injury-plagued seasons to be one of the best pitchers in the big leagues this year. He will represent the Braves on the NL All-Star team on July 16.
Gallen (6-5) gave up five runs, including four earned, in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander gave up seven hits and one walk and struck out four.
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 error when All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte launched a line drive from Orlando Arcia that allowed Eddie Rosario to score.
Eli White had an RBI triple in the seventh that gave Atlanta a 6-2 lead. Duvall, Ozuna and Jarred Kelenic had two hits. Jesse Chavez threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: Activated RHP AJ Smith-Shawver and optioned RHP Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Diamondbacks: LHP Jordan Montgomery (knee), LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (oblique) and RHP Merrill Kelly (shoulder) threw a bullpen on Tuesday. Coach Torey Lovullo said Montgomery is likely closer to returning to the active roster.
NEXT
The Braves will start RHP Charlie Morton (5-5, 3.96 ERA) on Wednesday. The D-backs have not named a starter.
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This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
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