Diamondbacks' Corbin on roll entering start vs. Rockies (Sep 02, 2017)
DENVER -- Patrick Corbin will try to continue his remarkable run of starts Saturday and help the Arizona Diamondbacks win their important series with the Colorado Rockies.
The Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 9-5 on Friday to open a 4 1/2-game lead over the Rockies for the top spot in the National League wild-card hunt. The floundering Rockies, who have lost eight of 12 and 13 of their past 20 games, are just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second wild-card spot.
Jon Gray (6-3, 4.18 ERA), who has also been successful lately, will start against Corbin (12-11, 3.91).
In his past four starts, Corbin is 4-0 with a 0.30 ERA, allowing one run and 18 hits in 30 1/3 innings in that span with five walks and 29 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .171 average and .438 OPS.
"Patrick had a good April for us, and in May things started to get a little lean," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "Really since the early part of June, he started to throw the ball really consistently. But the last four in particular have been outstanding.
"I think it's the fastball command on both sides of the plate. I think it's been able to switch the shape of his slider and throw an occasional changeup. And (he's) full of confidence. He's throwing those pitches with a very similar delivery, and the hitters just aren't picking the ball up. We know that he's worked hard for these moments, and he's enjoying this wave right now and so are we."
Arizona is 14-13 in starts by Corbin, who is 5-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) against the Rockies. In back-to-back starts against them this year on April 30 at Chase Field and May 6 at Coors Field, Corbin went 0-1, 6.97.
He held the Rockies to two hits in 6 1/3 innings without figuring in the decision at home and lost at Coors Field when he gave up nine hits, including two homers, and eight runs in four innings.
Gray is 3-2, 2.58 in his past six starts, allowing 34 hits and 11 earned runs in 38 1/3 innings with nine walks and 35 strikeouts in that span. He was the winner in his last start Sunday at Atlanta where he gave up three hits in six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in the Rockies' 3-0 victory.
Gray is 1-1, 5.40 in three starts against the Diamondbacks. After missing 2 1/2 months with a foot injury, Gray's first start was a win at Arizona on June 30 where he gave up seven hits and two runs with a season-high 10 strikeouts in Colorado's 6-3 victory.
This will be the 14th start for Gray, who has pitched 75 1/3 innings. He is fresh and has essentially rounded into midseason form at this point in the season.
"When I get out there right now, I know I can win, regardless of whatever hits," Gray said, "whether I lose a pitch or something like that, everything's going to be fine. I know I can pitch out of it, and that makes me feel pretty good.
"The slider's been a lot sharper. Mixing in more curveballs now and locating fastballs. It's been a good mix."
