Third time's still a charm: Corbin strong again

D-backs lefty follows wins over Cubs and Astros with victory vs. Mets

August 23rd, 2017

NEW YORK -- The innings can move quickly when is on his game. And for three straight starts, including Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Mets, the D-backs' left-hander has been on his game.
The outs come one after the other, so fast that it's hard to believe the D-backs are back in the dugout, ready to hit.
"Man, to play behind Corbin was awesome," third baseman said. "You're hitting again before you know it. You want to be on that side of the ball."
The D-backs notched consecutive wins for the first time since Aug. 2-4, while Corbin followed up dominant wins over the Cubs and Astros with his third straight victory.
Corbin was one out away from a complete-game shutout last week in Houston. In this outing, he allowed just one run in eight innings. Over his last three starts, Corbin has allowed one run on 13 hits in 23 1/3 innings.
"I think it just comes down to minimizing mistakes," Corbin said.
It comes down to a little more than that. Manager Torey Lovullo mentioned how Corbin has been able to spot his fastball on both sides of the plate, while Corbin said he's using his breaking pitches more frequently.
Corbin's lone mistake was a breaking ball that hit for a solo home run in the fifth, ending the left-hander's career-high scoreless-innings streak at 20 1/3.
Corbin had friends and family in attendance, as he usually does when he pitches in New York. He grew up in Clay, just north of Syracuse, and he said about 20 people were at Citi Field to watch. They saw him finally get his first win in the park, after losing to the Mets here in 2012, '13 and '15.
The D-backs gave Corbin an early lead, courtesy of J.D. Martinez's three-run home run in the first, then added on runs in the third, fourth and fifth. Corbin had only one difficult inning, when he followed 's leadoff single in the third by walking Mets pitcher Tommy Milone.
"Sometimes when the pitcher is up there trying to bunt, I get so focused on getting in position to field it that I rush sometimes," Corbin said. "I was really frustrated."
Corbin then started 2-0 against , bringing pitching coach Mike Butcher to the mound for his lone visit. Corbin eventually got Lagares to ground to third, where Rosales made a nice play for a forceout. Corbin then got to ground to third, where Rosales made an even nicer play to start an inning-ending double play.

"He's fun to play behind," Rosales said. "It's fast-paced, and you've got to be ready all the time."
"I like to pitch quick, for sure," Corbin said. "You never like to leave your hitters out there in the field."
Corbin needed just 10 pitches in the sixth and 13 in the seventh. Lovullo called to the bullpen after Corbin completed eight innings on 107 pitches.
"It was a great effort by Patrick," Lovullo said. "He gave us everything he could, and he deserves a lot of credit."