PHOENIX — You don’t get to a dozen wins on the mound before mid-July without laboring through a few outings.
Two days after receiving the eighth MLB All-Star nod of his career, veteran left-hander Chris Sale showed he hasn’t forgotten how to push past a rough spot.
In a battle of aces, Sale outdueled Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen with 5 1/3 solid innings, Adam Duvall hit a three-run homer, and the Braves beat the Diamondbacks 6-2 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.
Duvall connected in the sixth for his eighth homer of the season, 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 defintely putting some pressure on and hopefully we can continue to do that.”