Grit Index: Corbin struggles in D-backs’ road trip finale

He has been as reliable as most any starting pitcher in the National League this year, but Patrick Corbin failed to deliver Sunday when his team needed him most.

After playing in the longest major league baseball game since 1989 — a seven-hour, 18-inning affair — the Arizona Diamondbacks looked to their ace to carry them just 10 hours after the final pitch of Saturday’s game.

Unfortunately, Corbin didn’t look his sharpest Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, allowing eight earned runs and lasting just 5.1 innings, ultimately leading his team to a 9-5 loss.

He opposed Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay, who was prematurely activated from the disabled list after scheduled starter Tyler Cloyd was called on to pitch in Saturday’s game. Halladay was originally scheduled make a rehab start for Double-A Reading.

The outing was Corbin’s second-shortest of the season and it was by far his worst, with his previous high in earned runs coming on July 2 at Citi Field against the New York Mets, when he surrendered five. Sunday was also just the third time all season Corbin has allowed 10 baserunners.

The Diamondbacks were on the board right away, thanks to a Tony Campana leadoff triple and an Adam Eaton RBI thereafter.

Yet, despite the undeniable lag in energy following Saturday’s loss, the Phillies came out of the gates sprinting, touching up Corbin for four earned runs in the first inning and two more in the fourth. Corbin managed just one out in the sixth, leaving the bases loaded for Heath Bell, who ultimately allowed inherited baserunners to score in what would ultimately be a three-run inning for the Phillies.

Following their first-inning score, the Diamondbacks added a run in the second inning and three more in the eighth on a three-run homer from A.J. Pollock, but they were unable to overcome the nine-run output of their opponents.

The Good:

Tony Campana is hitting .320 with a .452 on-base percentage for the Diamondbacks, after going 2-for-5 Sunday with a pair of runs scored. He has been effective on the basepaths, scoring the go-ahead run Saturday from first base and swiping four bases in nine games with Arizona.

The Bad:

Patrick Corbin has now pitched 177.2 innings for the Diamondbacks in 2013. After throwing a complete game against the Cincinnati Reds in his previous outing, the 23-year-old left-hander appeared fatigued in his worst outing of the season Sunday.

Up Next:

Sunday marked the end of the Diamondbacks’ 10-game road trip to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Philadelphia and the team now returns home to face the San Diego Padres Monday. Right-hander Brandon McCarthy (2-8, 5.44 ERA) will take the mound for the Diamondbacks. Bud Black and the Padres will counter with Tyson Ross (3-6, 2.85 ERA), who shutout the Diamondbacks the last time he pitched at Chase Field. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. MDT and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620 AM.