ATLANTA - Zack Godley's control was sharp. That usually means good things for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Nick Ahmed hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh after Godley allowed a run over six innings, and the Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 Friday night.
Both National League teams began the week in first place in their divisions but have since fallen out. The Diamondbacks began the night a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the West. The Braves, who have lost seven of their past nine, fell 1 1/2 games behind the East-leading Philadelphia Phillies.
Godley (11-6) gave up three hits in the first, including Kurt Suzuki's run-scoring single. He allowed only two hits over the next five innings, struck out seven overall and issued only one walk. Arizona is 10-2 when the right-hander walks no more than three batters.
Godley said he took advantage of batters swinging early in counts.
"I felt really good," he said. "They were aggressive and put the ball in play, and the defense was unbelievable behind me."
Brad Boxberger struck out the side in the ninth for his 23rd save this season.
Braves starter Anibal Sanchez also was sharp, allowing a run and five hits in six innings. The right-hander gave up his run in the sixth, when Alex Avila doubled to left and scored from third on Jon Jay's blooper into shallow left field. Jay moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Paul Goldschmidt but was thrown out at the plate by first baseman Freddie Freeman on David Peralta's grounder.
Sanchez was pulled after throwing 86 pitches. He has thrown 90 or more pitches in five games this season.
Sanchez said he didn't expect to remain in the game for the seventh inning but added, "Yeah, there's no doubt I'd be able to throw 100 pitches."
Arizona quickly took the lead against the bullpen in the seventh, when Daniel Descalso drew a one-out walk from Sam Freeman (2-5) and scored on Ahmed's single up the middle off Dan Winkler.
Atlanta hitters were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They stranded runners at third base in the second and fifth innings. Braves manager Brian Snitker said he'd be more likely to juggle his lineup if only one or two hitters were slumping.
"In my mind, I don't know where the pieces are to put it together to suddenly have offense," Snitker said. "We're kind of not hitting on all cylinders as a team. It's not one guy."
Many fans in the SunTrust Park record crowd of 42,130 left their seats when rain began in the sixth, but the only delays were for the grounds crew to add dry dirt to the mound.