Grit Index: Early offense, Corbin’s strong outing keeps D-backs from falling below .500

Needing a win in the worst way Wednesday — for morale purposes as much as to stay above .500 in the standings — the Arizona Diamondbacks turned to their de facto ace, 24-year-old Patrick Corbin.

While he wasn’t lights out, Corbin allowed just one run on eight hits over 6.1 innings of work, as the D-backs salvaged the final game of their three-game series with the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers, winning by a final of 4-1.

Corbin, who was 1-5 in his last eight starts with 28 earned runs allowed, picked up his first win since Aug. 20.

For the D-backs, the victory snapped a five-game losing streak against the Dodgers.

The Good:

Although Corbin was solid on the mound, he had some help. The D-backs got off to a rather nice start at the plate, battering Los Angeles starter Hyun-Jin Ryu to the tune of three runs on five hits over the first two frames.

Rookie catcher Tuffy Gosewisch hit the first two doubles of his MLB career, including one in the top of the second that scored Gerardo Parra from third base.

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt also added to his NL-leading RBI total. The All-Star knocked in runs No. 108 and No. 109 on the season with a single in the first and seventh innings respectively. Goldschmidt went 4-for-5 on the night.

The Bad:

Although Goldschmidt added some insurance with an RBI in the seventh, the D-backs squandered a golden opportunity to tack on more, as Martin Prado grounded into an inning-ending double play against reliever Brian Wilson. They also left two men on in the ninth inning.

Corbin’s lone mistake on the mound came on his final pitch of the night in the bottom of the seventh. Facing Yasiel Puig with a 4-0 lead, the D-backs left-hander left a pitch up in the zone, and the Dodgers outfielder didn’t miss it. Puig’s solo shot to left field was measured at 428 feet.

He Said It:

“I treat every game the same, whether it’s in the big leagues or the minor leagues. I try to play hard every strike, every out, every game and let the chips fall where they may.” — D-backs catcher Tuffy Gosewisch

Noted:

– Since rejoining the D-backs Sept. 1, reliever David Hernandez has thrown five straight scoreless innings.

– Corbin allowed one run or less for the 13th time this season.

– Arizona had at least two hits in six of nine innings.

– Despite the win, the D-backs have scored four runs or less in 14 straight games — tied for the longest streak in baseball.

– For the Dodgers, Wednesday marked the first time since July 14 that they scored fewer than two runs against an NL West opponent at home.

Up Next:

The D-backs are off on Thursday but will begin a three-game series at home Friday night against the Colorado Rockies. Right-hander Brandon McCarthy (4-9, 4.66 ERA) of the D-backs will oppose Tyler Chatwood (7-4, 3.17 ERA) of the Rockies. McCarthy has gone at least seven innings in each of his last three starts. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. MDT
and can be heard on Arizona Sports 620.