Grit Index: Offense comes alive in D-backs’ victory over Cubs
Jul 24, 2013, 6:25 AM | Updated: 3:25 pm
The Arizona Diamondbacks found a way to drum up some much-needed offense Tuesday night with RBI from four different players, as they went on to rout the Chicago Cubs 10-4 in the second game of their four-game series at Chase Field.
Left-hander Patrick Corbin was a bit inconsistent early, but finished the night with a solid line. He worked six innings, gave up one earned run on four hits while walking three and striking out six. The lone earned run off Corbin came in the third with an RBI single by Anthony Rizzo. Corbin threw 96 pitches with 60 of them being strikes in earning his 12th win of the season.
Arizona’s offense didn’t have an answer for Cubs’ starter Travis Wood through three innings. The lefty he retired the first nine batters he faced, but slowly the D-backs started to figure things out.
In the fifth, Martin Prado launched a solo shot into left field to get the D-backs on the board. Wood was chased from the game after 5.2 innings and the D-backs continued to tack on runs with three in the sixth, three in the seventh and three in the eighth.
The bottom half of the D-backs order — the 5-6-7 hitters — were responsible for six of the club’s first seven RBI, with Eric Chavez recording three, Prado two and Wil Nieves one. A.J. Pollock drove in three runs in the two-hole and Paul Goldschmidt had the only other RBI Tuesday night.
Left fielder Adam Eaton was also impressive in the lead-off spot, setting the tone on more than one occasion. He was 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored.
The D-backs are now 4-2 in their last six home games and 11-6 in their last 17. With the D-backs win and a win by the Dodgers, Los Angeles remains a half game ahead of Arizona in the National League West.
The Good:
The D-backs offense finally got going with some help from Chavez and Prado.
Prado is hitting .329 with four homers and 14 RBI over his last 23 games.
Chavez’s three RBI Tuesday were the most he’s recorded since May 25 against the Padres. His two triples this season are his most since 2007.
As a team, the ten runs scored are the most since July 6 against the Rockies and the 14 hits are the most since July 4 at the Mets.
The Bad:
– Outfielder Cody Ross was hitting in the clean-up spot Tuesday night, and he was the only player, aside from Patrick Corbin, not to reach base or record a hit. He was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
– The D-backs bullpen did manage to give up a few runs with David Hernandez allowing a two-run shot in the eighth to pinch-hitter Nate Schierholtz and Tony Sipp giving up a solo home run in the ninth to Junior Lake.
Noted:
– The D-backs are 18-2 when Patrick Corbin starts and he’s allowed two or fewer earned runs in 16 of 20 starts this season.
– The D-backs are also 5-1 in 12 starts when he pitches after a D-backs’ loss.
– Corbin is undefeated at 8-0 in 11 starts at Chase Field.
– This was Corbin’s ninth start this season of allowing one earned run or less
He Said It:
“Like I was saying before the game, it’s contagious. When things are going bad you just gotta get it turning the other way so hopefully we can build on that and today will mean nothing if we don’t come back and back it up tomorrow.” – Chavez on how it felt to get some offense going
Up Next:
The Diamondbacks face the Cubs in the third game of the four-game series on Wednesday at Chase Field. Starter Ian Kennedy needs just one win to reach 50 in his career. He’s 3-7 on the season with a 5.29 ERA. In his last outing he was handed a 2-0 loss to the Giants on July 19 after allowing two runs in six innings of work. In seven career starts against the Cubs, Kennedy is 3-2 with a 6.65 ERA, giving up 32 earned runs in 43.1 innings pitched.
