Grit Index: D-backs’ offense keeps Corbin’s streak intact

The Arizona Diamondbacks scored 11 runs over the final three innings of their 12-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs Saturday night and kept the party going during the teams’ matinee rubber match Sunday.

De facto ace Patrick Corbin wasn’t particularly sharp (allowed four runs on six hits in six innings of work) for his second consecutive start, but it didn’t matter as Arizona battered former D-back Edwin Jackson, Carlos Marmol and Co. en route to an 8-4 series-clinching win.

With the victory, the D-backs won their first series at Wrigley Field since Oct. 2009.

The Good

Command was an issue all afternoon long for Cubs’ pitching and the D-backs took advantage. Arizona recorded seven walks in the win, and every position player had at least one hit.

Paul Goldschmidt notched his NL-leading 46th RBI with a go-ahead single in the sixth inning.

Back-up catcher Wil Nieves also collected a team-high three hits and has at least one in each of his last six appearances.

The Bad

Patrick Corbin became the first D-backs pitcher since Brandon Webb (2008) to start a season 9-0, but his outing was not without its issues.

In the first, the Arizona left-hander hit two batters, walked two batters and gave up a run. In the fourth, he gave up back-to-back hits to Darwin Barney and Edwin Jackson, which led to a run. And with a two-run lead in the fifth, Corbin left a pitch up in the zone that resulted in a two-run shot by former D-back Scott Hairston.

In his first nine outings, Corbin never gave up more than two runs in a contest. Over his last two appearances, the 23-year-old has allowed eight earned runs.

Stat of the Game

9: Despite his struggles, Corbin became the majors’ first nine-game winner on Sunday.

Noted

• The first inning took 36 minutes to play, despite the fact no hits were recorded. Corbin and Jackson combined for one wild pitch, one stolen base allowed, two hit batters and four walks.

• Brad Ziegler pitched a scoreless seventh inning and has allowed just one earned run over his last 12 appearances.

• After allowing four runs in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game, Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol was up to his usual tricks again Sunday. Marmol allowed one run on three walks and needed 34 pitches to get out of his one inning of relief.

What’s Next

The D-backs head to St. Louis to begin a four-game series with the NL-leading Cardinals. Right-hander Trevor Cahill (3-5, 2.88 ERA) gets the start Monday for the D-backs. He will be opposed by 2012 All-Star Lance Lynn (7-1, 2.91 ERA). The game can be heard on Arizona Sports 620 at 5:15 p.m.