Grit Index: Corbin’s gem leads D-backs past Braves
May 15, 2013, 5:34 AM | Updated: 3:13 pm
The Arizona Diamondbacks snapped their three-game skid with a 2-0 win over the Braves on Tuesday night at Chase Field. The D-backs are now 3-6 in their last nine games at home and look to win the series on Wednesday afternoon.
Starter Patrick Corbin was the story of the game once again, earning his sixth win of the season. He’s now 6-0 on the year and is tied for the Major League-lead with eight quality starts. His line on Tuesday was solid — seven innings and giving up three hits, five walks and striking out five. Corbin’s 1.52 ERA ranks third in the Majors for starting pitchers this season.
The bullpen was able to pick up where Corbin left off, something that’s not been a sure thing this season with Arizona leading the majors in blown saves.
David Hernandez pitched the eighth, giving up one hit and striking out three. Heath Bell came in to close out the game in the ninth and recorded two strikeouts along with a fly ball to center field to end it.
The D-backs’ offense came in the third inning. Cliff Pennington led off with a single, went to third on a Gerardo Parra double and Didi Gregorius got two RBIs with a single of his own. That was all the offense Arizona could muster. They recorded just eight hits on the night and left six on base.
The Good:
Corbin and Hernandez found a way to shut Justin Upton down Tuesday night. After he went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI on Monday, he walked twice, flew out to right field and struck out looking with a runner on first in a key at-bat in the eighth inning.
The Bad:
Arizona was 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and they are 3-for-43 in that category in their last six games. They have now scored three runs or less in seven straight games.
Noted:
• This is the third shutout for the Diamondbacks of 2013 and their first shutout of the Braves since May 16, 2009 at Turner Field. It’s also the first time they’ve shut out the Braves at home since 2006.
• Paul Goldschmidt committed an error in the ninth inning marking the first time the D-backs have committed errors in back-to-back games this season. Martin Prado was charged with a throwing error in Monday night’s series opener.
• Corbin is one of only two Diamondback left-handed pitchers to start the season 6-0 or better. Randy Johnson also accomplished the feat in 2000 and 2001.
• Corbin is the first D-backs’ pitcher to open a season with eight straight starts of at least six innings pitched with two runs or less allowed.
He Said It:
“Just coming off (Monday) I wanted to come in and get a good feeling in this clubhouse again and go out there and attack these guys and go after them,” Corbin said. “They’re a pretty good hitting team, they showed it yesterday. I just wanted to go out there and try to shut them down.”
What’s Next:
The Diamondbacks play the series finale and the rubber match against the Braves on Wednesday afternoon. It will be right-hander Ian Kennedy against fellow righty Tim Hudson. Kennedy is 1-3 on the season with a 4.83 ERA and Hudson comes in with a 4-2 record and a 4.70 ERA.
In his last outing, Kennedy did not figure in the decision but he gave up two earned runs in seven innings of work. He’s 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in his last four home games against the NL East. First pitch on Wednesday is at 12:40 p.m. on Arizona Sports 620.
