Former D-back Corbin goes 6 innings, gives up 2 runs in playoffs debut
Oct 3, 2019, 8:02 PM
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of Game 1 in baseball's National League Divisional Series on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Patrick Corbin was not given an appearance in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ four-game playoff run in 2017 in which they beat the Colorado Rockies in the Wild Card game before being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Two years later, he got his chance with the Washington Nationals.
In Game One of the National League Division Series, he gave up two runs — one earned — and three hits over six innings to the Dodgers.
Corbin had 98 pitches going into the sixth inning, but he threw a nine-pitch gem to go 1-2-3 and give the team one more frame before going to the bullpen.
He didn’t start the game out that strong. Corbin walked another member of that 2017 D-backs team, A.J. Pollock, to lead off the bottom first, but then he struck out the next two batters. However, Corbin then walked three straight batters to give Pollock the free run before getting out of the frame.
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The last pitcher to walk four batters in one inning of a playoff game was another NLDS game between the Nationals and Dodgers, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. In 2012, Washington’s Gio Gonzalez did this in the second inning of Game One.
But Corbin settled down over the next three innings, not allowing another run until there were two outs in the bottom fifth.
He struck out the first two batters in the fifth before walking Cody Bellinger. Then, Chris Taylor drove the ball down the third base line. It was stopped by Anthony Rendon, but Taylor reached first safely.
The next batter, Max Muncy, hit a sharp ground ball that went between the first baseman’s legs. Bellinger scored and Taylor was called out at home plate.
Corbin went out for one more inning, getting through the sixth.
While he had a solid performance, allowing two runs, one earned run, and striking out nine, the Nationals couldn’t touch Dodgers starter Walker Buehler. They trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom seventh when Tanner Rainey took over in relief.
In the other playoff game Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals took down the Atlanta Braves 7-6. Former Arizona Diamondback Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with a home run and double.
