Arizona Diamondbacks – Corbin remains winless at home

Left-hander Patrick Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks has not won a game since June 21 at Toronto

The answers are becoming more political and diplomatic for Patrick Corbin, a left-hander for the Arizona Diamondbacks. As Corbin’s season continues to sink, there’s a strange dichotomy on the surface.

After dropping a painful, 15-6 decision to the Milwaukee Brewers before 29,370 Saturday in Chase Field on Saturday, Corbin said he is feeling solid and, unlike earlier in the season, he pointed out, “I feel stronger and the ball is coming out of my hand better.” That may be the case physically, but on the scoreboard, where success is truly realized, his season continues to unravel.

With the loss at home Saturday, Corbin now falls to 4-11 and has not won a game in Chase Field this season. His four victories have come at San Diego (April 17), at St. Louis (May 20), at Wrigley Field over the Cubs (June 5) and at Toronto (June 21). Since defeating the Blue Jays north of the border, Corbin is 0-5 and three no-decisions.

Unlike this last start against the Dodgers, the Arizona Diamondbacks staked him to an early 3-0 lead, but Corbin let that disappear. On Saturday, he allowed two, first inning runs and that essentially held up until Ryan Braun’s first of two, three-run homers broke this open in the sixth.

More from Diamondbacks News

• What is the Rule 5 Draft? How does it impact Diamondbacks?
• Former Diamondbacks SP Robbie Ray wins AL CY Young!
• Bannister the bench coach, yet another great hire by the Diamondbacks
• The king of Chase Field should be signed by the Diamondbacks
• The Goat has come to the Diamondbacks to save the day

“They came out swinging, and my pitch count was up in that first inning,” said Corbin, whose pitch count was 28 in that initial frame. “After that, I settled in, and thought I made some good pitches. Just trying to locate my pitches.”

That maybe one observation from which manager Chip Hale took exception. In offering an explanation for Corbin’s continuing maladies, Hale simply said, “he’s not locating his fast ball.” Overall, Corbin was knocked out in the sixth, and his pitch count ended at 94 with 57 for strikes.

“(Corbin) wriggled his way out a few situations, but location of his fast ball was not where it needs to be,” Hale said. “He was not as bad as it appeared, but his location needs to get better.”

If the bullpen carried Friday night’s win by putting up zeros over the final four frames of an extra inning win, that contingent was back allowing an uncomfortable plethora of runs and hits. For the game, the Brewers collected those 15 runs and 19 hits, both season highs for Milwaukee. As well, the 15 runs allowed by six Arizona pitchers was a season-high.

When he gave up Braun’s second, three-run bomb, reliever Dominic Leone surrendered his fifth home run in 13 innings, and sports a 9.00 ERA in 13 appearances. As a staff, Diamondbacks’ pitchers have a team ERA of 5.12, the worst in the National League. The Cincinnati Reds have the next highest ERA at 5.02. Plus, the pitching staff has allowed double digits runs in four of their last six games.

“Yes, we have may have lost our edge, but not our confidence,” Hale said. “We, as coaches and managers, can do only so much. This is a big boys game, and the drive to succeed must be in each player.”

In the trainer’s room

Outfielder David Peralta bruised his right wrist making a catch against the right field fence in Friday night’s game. He was held out of Saturday’s game.

Peralta is scheduled to see Dr. Gary Waslewski, the team physical on Sunday, for an examination.

“It just feels weird,” he said after Saturday’s game. “No, no x-rays at this point, but I should be okay for (Sunday). We’ll see what the doctor says.”

So far this season, Peralta has spent two sessions on the disabled list, and is currently hitting .251 (43-for-171) in 48 games.

One last time

The Brewers’ series and home stand concludes Sunday at 1:10 p. m. That’s when right-hander Archie Bradley (4-7, 4.75) takes on right-hander Jimmy Nelson (6-10, 3.74).

The Arizona Diamondbacks then hit the road for a six-game trip. This includes three with the Mets at Citi Field in New York and three with the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park, both teams contending for post-season positions.

Next: Tomas' numbers are coming

The club then returns home to Chase Field, and will play 10 of their next 14 games in the desert. These series include three with the Mets, four with the Braves and three with the Reds.