Arizona Diamondbacks shut down rookie RHP Trevor Bauer for rest of season

by Nick Piecoro - Sept. 19, 2012 10:01 PM
azcentral sports

For weeks, the Diamondbacks had appeared to be leaning toward bringing up right-hander Trevor Bauer from the minor leagues once Triple-A Reno's season ended. Even manager Kirk Gibson said on Tuesday afternoon the organization "thought it would be beneficial to (bring him) back."

But after Bauer struggled in the Triple-A championship game on Tuesday night -- a game Reno won 10-3 over Pawtucket -- the Diamondbacks announced Wednesday that their highly regarded prospect would not be returning to the big leagues, after all.

Although Bauer walked 17 batters in 16 1/3 innings in three minor-league playoff starts, the Diamondbacks said his recent performance was not a factor in the decision to end his season. Instead, they pointed to his innings total and the fact that they didn't want to bump someone from the rotation, go with a six-man rotation or have Bauer pitch out of the bullpen.

Either way, it was clear from listening to General Manager Kevin Towers that the Diamondbacks would like to see Bauer make changes to both how he pitches and in the way he prepares for his starts.

Towers said Bauer still needs to improve his fastball command, which Towers believes is largely responsible for Bauer's high walk total. He also said Bauer tends to get "a little bit strikeout happy," the implication being that he needs to pitch more to contact.

"I think for him, learning how to be a professional and to be a little bit more open-minded," Towers said. "There are a lot of people that want him to be successful. Sometimes when you're a young kid, (learning) to be a big-leaguer and what it takes to be a big-leaguer, handling adverse situations is sometimes tough. I think mentally he's making a lot of progress."

But Towers intimated that he'd like to see Bauer tone down his aggressive throwing program. Bauer is known for being an advocate of long-tossing, something he does between starts and on the days he starts. He credits it for building arm strength and helping him "sync up" his body before pitching.

Towers wondered if all the work Bauer puts in between starts contributed to his fluctuating velocity this season. On Tuesday, Bauer, who gave up two runs and walked seven in 4 2/3 innings, was working with a fastball in the 88-92 mph range. Towers said he witnessed Bauer hitting 95-96 mph while pitching for Mobile early in the season.

Towers said he met with Bauer on Tuesday, congratulating him on his solid season and encouraging him to reflect on changes he might want to make.

"I think it's really going to have to come from him," Towers said. "He's the type of kid that I think he feels pretty strong about the way he goes about doing things. I think he realizes now that after a full minor-league season, pitching every fifth day, it's different than it was in college. You know, saving your bullets."

Bauer had an eventful year. He posted a combined 2.23 ERA with 116 strikeouts in 93 innings between Double-A Mobile and Reno before being called to the majors in late June. But he struggled in four starts, posting a 6.06 ERA with 13 walks in 16 1/3 innings.

He returned to Triple-A and was given a three-week "breather" between starts, something the organization historically has done in the minors for its young pitchers. It was also a chance for Bauer to rest his sore groin, which he said had bothered him for much of the year.

Notes

The Diamondbacks added first baseman Mike Jacobs and outfielder A.J. Pollock to the roster. Jacobs, who while in the Rockies organization last season was suspended for testing positive for HGH, was emotional when talking about his return to the big leagues, where he hadn't been since 2010.

Outfielder Cole Gillespie was designated for assignment to create room for Jacobs on the 40-man roster.

Gibson said tests showed center fielder Chris Young's right quadricep, which he aggravated on Tuesday night, had not worsened. He hoped Young would be available as a pinch-hitter.

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2012/09/19/20120919arizona-diamondbacks-shut-down-rookie-rhp-trevor-bauer-rest-season.html
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Arizona Diamondbacks rally to beat the San Diego Padres

by Paul Coro - Sept. 19, 2012 09:36 PM
azcentral sports

D-Backs 6, Padres 2

Recap: The Diamondbacks won their third consecutive game with continued strong pitching backed by four doubles and two triples in a victory against San Diego at Chase Field.

Starting pitcher Trevor Cahill (12-11) stayed undefeated in his past four starts and had the support of three relievers tossing three shutout innings.

The Diamondbacks' offensive struggles at home have shown some signs of breaking with Sunday's 10-run game and Wednesday's win. Arizona trailed 2-0 before Justin Upton and Miguel Montero led off the fourth inning with doubles. Adam Eaton's fifth-inning triple, a liner to left-center, tied the game and he scored on a balk for a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning.

Paul Goldschmidt's 40th double, tying him for second in the National League, made it a three-run fifth inning and another triple from Ryan Wheeler in the eighth inning completed the scoring. Wheeler's hit scored Montero, who had been hit by a pitch for the second time, and Wheeler scored on a throwing error to third base.

Steady rocking and firing: Cahill won his third consecutive start Wednesday night, allowing two earned runs and lasting at least six innings in each game.

Cahill, who has not allowed a home run since Aug. 10, is now 12-0 this season when receiving at least three runs of support.

Cahill was in real danger with runners in scoring position only twice but ran his pitch count to 96 over six innings. Two double plays and plenty of ground balls kept San Diego's bats at bay. It was only when he yielded consecutive walks in the fourth inning that San Diego scored. With two outs, Cahill surrendered consecutive RBI singles in the bottom of the order to Will Venable and John Baker.Cahill was ahead with a 0-2 count on Venable, who extended the at-bat 10 pitches before pulling a change-up.

Quittin' time for Quentin? It is was pretty clear that San Diego left fielder Carlos Quentin was in pain Wednesday from the way he moved in the outfield and his early exit in the bottom of the fifth inning. It sure was painful watching him.

Quentin had missed the past six games with irritation in his right knee, which underwent surgery in the spring and kept him out for the season's first 49 games.

On back-to-back doubles toward the left-field line in Wednesday night's fourth inning, Quentin labored to get there. On Montero's high-soaring sliced double, Quentin even shook his head as he tried to get under a fly with plenty of hang time .

Quentin, the 30-year-old former Diamondbacks player, signed a three-year, $27 million extension through 2015 prior to his knee issues. He is hitting .263 this season with 16 home runs in 280 at bats.

Extra, extra: Upton doubled in successive innings to left field Wednesday night for his second game of two extra-base hits this week. Prior to those games, Upton had not had a multi-extra-base hit game since Aug. 11.

Upton is hitting .308 over the past 13 games with a six-game hitting streak.

--Paul Coro

View from the press box: Before the game, General Manager Kevin Towers spoke glowingly about rookie outfielder Adam Eaton and what he has shown in his brief time in the majors. Towers also said Eaton has "a little more sock in the bat" than what he's shown. Not long after, Eaton proved Towers right, lining a triple into the gap in left-center field. Eaton has had more of a slap-hitting approach in his brief time in the majors. It will be interesting to see if he will look to drive the ball more often as he becomes more comfortable in the major leagues.

--Nick Piecoro

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2012/09/19/20120919arizona-diamondbacks-rally-beat-san-diego-padres.html
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Arizona Diamondbacks give Mike Jacobs a second chance

by Paul Coro - Sept. 19, 2012 08:54 PM
azcental sports

For the past year, Mike Jacobs was no longer known for his power-filled rookie call-up in 2005 with the Mets, his 32-home run season with the Marlins in 2008 or his four years as a regular major-league starter.

He was Mike Jacobs, the only athlete in North American professional sport leagues to test positive for human growth hormone.

Jacobs' price was a 50-game suspension, an immediate release from the Colorado Rockies organization and the worry of whether his admitted mistake would keep him from ever feeling the joy he had Wednesday when he returned to the majors with the Diamondbacks.

It was an emotional Tuesday night, when the 31-year-old celebrated a Triple-A championship with the Reno Aces in Raleigh, N.C., and blended his champagne soaked face with tears when Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers told him and teammate A.J. Pollock that they would join the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Recounting the moment that he told his wife Vanessa, Jacobs bit his lip to stop his quivering chin and hold back more tears as he gathered himself for a few seconds in the Chase Field dugout Wednesday evening.

"She was proud of me," Jacob said with his voice cracking. "You know she's been there through everything. She's been there through all the ups and downs."

Jacobs was just trying to find his way back to the majors with the Colorado Sky Sox when he was suspended on Aug. 11, 2011, a year after minor-league baseball began blood testing. Jacobs issued a statement of admission at the time that said in part, " ... In an attempt to overcome knee and back problems, I made the terrible decisions to take HGH."

The three trades Jacobs had experienced would test any player's confidence but he was now shaken that the label of a positive drug test would keep him from another major-league chance. He already had not played in the majors since April 2010.

"It's been a long time fighting to be here," Jacobs said. "You always question it. It's obviously in the back of the mind. I think what makes a man is a guy that can face the things he's done wrong and own up to them and then try to move on. I think people are a lot more forgiving than what people get credit for. I'm grateful for the opportunity. Whether I got back to the big leagues with the Diamondbacks or not, I was just grateful for the opportunity to be able to play baseball again."

Jacobs said he has seen people run from their mistakes and have that response blow up in their face. He felt quickly owning up to his error was the right thing to do and would help him earn his way back.

The Diamondbacks gave him that chance by signing him in January and he hit .279 with 18 home runs for Reno while mentoring younger players like now-Diamondbacks Adam Eaton, Jake Elmore and Ryan Wheeler. With a need for left-handed power, the first baseman's chance with Arizona could extend to the spring.

"It's kind of a great story," Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers said. "After having the 50-game suspension and having to start off in extended spring, he was a leader down there with those kids. Then Bugsy (Reno Manager Brett Butler) said he asked him to take on a leadership role and help guys like Pollock and Eaton in Triple-A. He did so and helped that club win a championship. It's pretty amazing. You see guys with five or six years and have hit 30 homers in the big leagues. To get the call that he's coming up to the big leagues and be as emotional as he was, it's great to see. We told A.J. Pollock and he was more happy for Jacobs than he was for himself."

Jacobs still admitted to being surprised when he got the word Tuesday night. The emotions never stopped as he and Pollock took connecting flights to arrive in the Diamondbacks clubhouse on Wednesday afternoon. He gets to join his pupils like Eaton, who he said calls him "Father."

He also had to own up to his mistake once again, "face forward" as he says, and talk about history but in a much better place -- Chase Field, a place he had once targeted to make home.

Major League Baseball added HGH testing in the newest collective bargaining agreement. And despite how it turned his life upside-down, Jacobs is an advocate.

"I think that is something that would've been bargained for either way, whether it would have happened or not," Jacobs said. "I think that is something that is actually really good for baseball. I think that it should even go further steps than where it's at."

20 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2012/09/19/20120919arizona-diamondbacks-give-mike-jacobs-second-chance.html
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Gerardo Parra having 'hard' time with limited play

by Nick Piecoro - Sept. 18, 2012 10:21 PM
azcentral sports

On the day Gerardo Parra arrived at Salt River Fields for the start of spring training, he was upbeat and positive about the new role in which he found himself.

Forced to become the fourth outfielder, he said all the right things. That he was a team player. That he would do whatever was asked. That all he wanted was to win.

But nearing the end of a disappointing season for the Diamondbacks and in the middle of what has been a frustrating month for him, Parra sounded worn down by the way things have transpired and uncertain about what lies ahead.

"It's really hard," Parra said. "It's up to the manager to put me in the lineup."

That hasn't happened very often lately for Parra, who was on the bench again for Tuesday night's series opener against the San Diego Padres. Parra entered the game in the first inning when Chris Young reinjured his right quad.

Parra has started just four games in the month of September, largely a byproduct of the Diamondbacks giving an extended look to rookie outfielder Adam Eaton.

Throughout the season, Parra has been unwilling to talk about the difficulty of sporadic playing time, but he acknowledged it Tuesday.

"It's not easy when you're not playing every day," he said.

"Everything (is harder). Your timing (at the plate). Your legs from running. Defense in the outfield. It's not easy."

When asked about next season, Parra said he hopes the Diamondbacks find a way for him to play more regularly.

"But that's not in my hands," he said. "I don't know what will happen next year. I'll be ready for everything."

And what if they don't create a spot for him, would he want to be traded?

"I want to stay here, but if they trade me to another team where I can play every day, I'll be happy, too," he said. "But I don't think about playing for another team. I'm just thinking about playing for the D-Backs."

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said he's aware of Parra's frustration; the two met last week while the team was in San Francisco, not long after Eaton was summoned to the majors.

"He was disappointed," Gibson said.

"We've had four really good outfielders all year and now we have an additional one with Adam Eaton," he continued. "We want to see the difference in our lineup with (Eaton) in there. My opinion on Parra is as high it's ever been. And he's always ready to play."

The Diamondbacks are widely expected to explore trading right fielder Justin Upton and/or Young in the off-season. It's unclear whether Parra fits into their long-term plans.

After all, after Parra hit .290 last season and won a Gold Glove, the Diamondbacks still felt compelled to sign free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel to a two-year deal to take over in left field.

Parra's numbers have fallen off across the board. In 354 at-bats, he is hitting .271 with a .332 on-base and .390 slugging.

"He's pretty much never been on the bench in his career, and he comes into this season as a fourth outfielder, it's just tough for him," catcher Miguel Montero said. "He's had a great attitude. If you look at him, if he's mad or disappointed, he doesn't show it. That's a great thing. He's a great teammate. You always see him cheering for everybody."

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2012/09/18/20120918arizona-diamondbacks-gerardo-parra-having-hard-time-limited-play.html
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Arizona Diamondbacks' Willie Bloomquist earns award nomination

by Scott Bordow - Sept. 18, 2012 10:09 PM
azcentral sports

It's been a rough five weeks for infielder Willie Bloomquist, who has been bothered by a back injury and has made just one appearance, as a pinch-hitter, since Aug. 8.

But on Tuesday, Bloomquist had a smile on his face as he talked about being named the Diamondbacks' 2012 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented to a player who makes positive contributions to his team and his community.

"Obviously it's a huge honor. I'm really humbled by it," Bloomquist said. "For me to be the nominee for this organization is a pretty cool thing."

Since 2011, Bloomquist has hosted a Phoenix Children's Hospital patient and his/her family to a VIP day during one game of each home stand at Chase Field. Also, Bloomquist and his wife, Lisa, began the "The Abe and Max Fund," named after two patients who made a lasting impact on Bloomquist when they visited Chase Field.

The fund raises money to buy electronics and games for Phoenix Children's Hospital; it started with a $5,000 donation from the Bloomquist family.

As for his availability, Bloomquist said his back is feeling better but that he was still a few days away from baseball activities. Bloomquist conceded there's a possibility he might not play again this season.

"It's very tough for me to say I'm done for the year when we still have games left," Bloomquist said. "We'll see what the situation is at the point and time I'm able to play."

Return engagement

Trevor Bauer might be on his way back to Arizona.

The rookie right-hander, who pitched in the Triple-A championship game Tuesday, could be called up and get a major league start before the end of the season. General Manager Kevin Towers flew to Durham, N.C., to watch Bauer pitch, and a decision could come within the next couple of days, manager Kirk Gibson said.

"We think it would be beneficial for him to be back," Gibson said of Bauer, who was 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA earlier this year.

It's uncertain how Bauer would fit into the rotation. Barring injury, Ian Kennedy is scheduled to pitch the final game of the season, and Gibson said a starter's turn would have to be skipped to fit Bauer in.

"I don't know anybody that wants to miss a start but at the same time if we feel somebody should miss a start, he would be the likely choice," Gibson said.

One pitch

Chris Young, who has been bothered by a right quadriceps injury, made his first start since Sept. 3 but it didn't last long.

On the game's first pitch, Young chased down a ball hit by San Diego shortstop Everth Cabrera near the right-center field wall and immediately motioned to the Diamondbacks' bench that he needed to come out.

The short appearance continued a frustrating season for the D-Backs' center fielder. Young was hitting .410 when he went on the disabled list April 18 for a month, and after playing in 156 games each of the past two years, he won't top 110 this season.

"It sucks a little bit to get hurt a couple of times during the season," Young said. "It's my first time missing this much playing time."

Short hops

Suns' point guard Goran Dragic will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Wednesday's game against the Padres. ... Gibson won his 200th game Sunday as Diamondbacks manager. Bob Melvin has the most victories of any Arizona manager (337), followed by Bob Brenly (303) and Buck Showalter (250). ... The Reno Aces won the Triple-A national championship game Tuesday, beating Pawtucket, 10-3. Reno becomes the third D-Backs' minor-league affiliate to win a title this year.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2012/09/18/20120918arizona-diamondbacks-willie-bloomquist-earns-award-nomination.html
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Arizona Diamondbacks finally win at home against San Diego Padres

Sept. 18, 2012 09:22 PM
Associated Press

PHOENIX -- Ian Kennedy gave up one run in eight innings for his 14th victory, Miguel Montero drove in two runs with two doubles and the Arizona Diamondbacks finally got a home win over the San Diego Padres, 3-2 on Tuesday night.

San Diego was 6-0 in Arizona this season before dropping the series opener.

Kennedy (14-11) overcame a 30-pitch first inning, scattering seven hits. A 21-game winner in 2011, Kennedy is 8-3 in his last 12 starts.

Eric Stults (6-3) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings in his first loss since June 3. The left-hander had gone 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in seven starts since rejoining the Padres rotation on Aug. 6.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2012/09/18/20120918arizona-diamondbacks-win-home-against-san-diego-padres.html
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Arizona Diamondbacks mental approach key down stretch

by Tyler Killian - Sept. 17, 2012 09:44 PM
azcentral sports

It's no secret that players in any sport want their team to do well. They want to be playing meaningful games as the regular season approaches its end.

The secrets, then, lie in how to make that happen.

The Diamondbacks enter Tuesday night's matchup with the San Diego Padres, the first of their final 16 regular-season games, trailing the St. Louis Cardinals by 41/2 games for the National League's second wild-card berth, and have four other teams ahead of them.

It's a tough spot, but for now the games remain meaningful, and a strong mental approach is an important element.

"Coming to the field every day, I've never really been a part of scoreboard watching or watching other teams and seeing what they've been doing," Diamondbacks third baseman Chris Johnson said. "This is all new to my career. It's exciting. You rush into the locker room after a win and then go and check what the other teams are doing."

Clubhouse morale is high, and there is no mistaking the Diamondbacks' intensity and seriousness.

"When you can feel that you're that close, and there's that light at the end of the tunnel, it makes it exciting," second baseman Aaron Hill said. "They call it the dog days of summer around this time, but when you got something to play for as far as a playoff spot, it makes it a lot easier to get through because it just gives you a little extra adrenaline."

Higher adrenaline and fiery passion may not always work to a player's advantage, however.

Dr. Jim Afremow is a sports psychology specialist at Arizona State University who has consulted with players from across Major League Baseball. He said knowing how one's mind and body work is the key to performing in stressful situations.

"One of the misconceptions about mental readiness is that you need to psych up for the game," Afremow said. "My response is that you need to psych right for the game. For some guys it might be to actually downplay the importance of the game. They might be too hyped, and they might need to just think, 'This is what I do every day and I just need to trust my teammates and do what I do.'

"Other guys might need that little extra boost to fire themselves up."

If the Diamondbacks fail to erase their deficit, and the playoffs begin to drift out of reach, players will face another pivotal decision: whether to throw in the towel and start looking to next year.

The team was certainly met with that temptation in 2009 and 2010, when it finished 22 and 26 games out of a playoff spot, respectively.

"You're (out of the race) in September, you know it's going to be a long month," catcher Miguel Montero said. "You're showing up because you have to show up, but you don't even want to because you're so tired and you're playing for nothing, pretty much. It's not a good feeling."

But Afremow said going through the motions can have effects that stretch beyond just that season.

"I think it was Gary Player that said he would rather finish 112th in a tournament than 113th because he wants to know that he's always doing his best," Afremow said. "Too many golfers, if they're going to miss the cut or they don't have a chance to win, might just try to get through the round or the rest of the tournament. Then when they're on Sunday with a chance (to win), it's going to be even more difficult because they haven't mentally prepared for it."

"... So if you are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and the season is still going on, then the rest of the games of the season should be your playoffs, so the next time you are in a playoff run, it feels like you've been there before.

Diamondbacks reliever Matt Lindstrom has seen hopeless Septembers, but there is always professional pride.

"The difference is a lot of guys are trying to win jobs for the next year," he said. "The feeling is not as good as it is when there's a playoff implication in mind, but you just got to keep grinding out the games and get ready for next year, and keep that focus."

Whether the Diamondbacks make the postseason remains to be seen, and for all of Afremow's insight, Montero knows where his own attention lies.

"The main key here is to focus on one game at a time, one game at a time," he said. "We just got to worry about today, and we'll figure it out from here."

Up next

San Diego Padres

Padres update: These are the final three games the Diamondbacks will play against the Padres this season. That's probably a good thing. With each meeting, the Padres seem to be an even better team than they were before. They're 19-6 since Aug.19 and 43-26 since June29. They've been winning in different ways, including with a red-hot offense, something that's almost never been the case for the Padres, certaintly not since they moved into Petco Park in 2004. 3B Chase Headley has been one of baseball's better players in the second half, and OF Jesus Guzman (.906 OPS), OF Carlos Quentin (.848), OF Chris Denorfia (.836) and C Yasmani Grandal (.827) also have performed well since the All-Star break. The Padres also finished strongly in 2009 and wound up winning 90 games in 2010.

18 Sep, 2012

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Arizona Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin leads rout of San Francisco Giants

by Bob McManaman - Sept. 16, 2012 04:21 PM
azcentral sports

PHOENIX -- The past few days have been pretty good for Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin.

On Friday night, the Mobile BayBears defeated Jackson to win the Double-A Southern League championship series, earning Corbin a title ring.

On Saturday night, the Reno Aces defeated Omaha to win the Triple-A Pacific Coast League championship series, giving Corbin yet another title ring.

And on Sunday, Corbin pitched a career-high eight innings and drove in four runs with a bases-clearing triple and a broken-bat single to help his own cause in leading the Diamondbacks to a 10-2 rout of the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field.

Two championship rings from his two stints this season in the minors and then a win and his first four RBIs in the majors. Not a bad 72 hours for the left-handed rookie from Clay, N.Y., who had been winless in his past four starts for Arizona.

"Yeah," Corbin said, beaming widely.

Corbin was effective and efficient, throwing 93 pitches and allowing two runs with just one walk and five strikeouts.

"Miggy called a great game. I don't think I shook him off once today," Corbin (6-7) said of catcher Miguel Montero. "When you can go out there and just go with the catcher, you're just in rhythm the whole game.

"I didn't really think too much out there, just whatever he called I threw. You can see why they signed Miggy (to a long-term extension) and kept him around here."

It was Corbin's hitting -- and baserunning on the triple he hit off Ryan Vogelsong in the fourth inning -- that everyone wanted to talk to him about.

With the bases loaded, Vogelsong started off Corbin with back-to-back inside fastballs. The pitcher never took his bat off his shoulders. Then Giants first baseman Brandon Belt quit protecting the line and Vogelsong threw a heater right over the plate.

"That's what I was sitting on and I just put the bat on the ball and it got by him," Corbin said.

Corbin flew around the bases and finished his triple with a headfirst slide into third, a move manager Kirk Gibson doesn't like to see out of his pitchers. Gibson also prefers that his pitchers only run at 75 percent when rounding the bases.

"I didn't care there," he said, smiling, adding of the headfirst slide, "It's kind of risky for a pitcher, for sure. A guy could drop his knee down on you or put his foot on you."

Corbin said he always slid headfirst as a kid.

"In Little League and stuff, that's what I did a lot," he said.

It's only the second time in franchise history a pitcher has cleared the bases with a triple. Ian Kennedy did it earlier this season against the Rockies.

As for Corbin's four RBIs, it's the second-most by a pitcher in club history behind Micah Owings' six RBIs in 2007 vs. the Braves.

Corbin said he'll keep the bat -- or at least pieces of it -- as a memento. He shattered it upon his seventh-inning RBI blooper to center.

"Those are my first RBIs, so I'll probably just keep it," he said. "I'll always remember those hits. ... I thought I squared it up, honestly, but the bat broke."

The win was pretty important, too. It helped the team avoid a three-game series sweep and it snapped a 0-3 skid for Corbin.

"We've been fighting all year and it was nice to see us go out there and put up some runs today," he said. "I'm glad I got to save the bullpen a little bit, especially with an off day (Monday).

"We're still going to go out there, work hard, and make a push at this."

Recap

After managing only four runs in two previous losses to the San Francisco Giants, the Diamondbacks found a catalyst in starter Patrick Corbin. Not only did Corbin deliver four RBIs but he also tossed eight innings of two-run ball to help the Diamondbacks avoid a sweep on Sunday at Chase Field.

Big inning: With runners on second and third and one out in the fourth, Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong intentionally walked Gerardo Parra to face Corbin. Down 1-2 in the count, Corbin connected on a fastball that sailed down the first-base line and into the corner in right field. That cleared the bases and ignited the Diamondbacks offense.

"They tried to pound him in, and he got the head (of the bat) out just enough," manager Kirk Gibson said. "We saw Patrick earlier in the year swinging the bat really well. He hasn't lately, but he had a huge day today."

Two batters later, Aaron Hill smacked a double down the third-base line to add two more runs.

More than four: In scoring 10 runs, the Diamondbacks snapped a streak of 12 consecutive home games in which they produced four runs or less. Had they failed to do so, this team would have set the club record and moved past the 2004 Diamondbacks who went on a similar skid from Aug. 20 to Sept. 15.

Starting off strong: Outfielder Adam Eaton appears to have found a home at the top of the batting order. He's been in that spot for the past three series, and he turned in one of his more-effective performances Sunday. Eaton had a single, three walks and scored two runs, which included a dogged effort from first to home off Hill's double in the fourth.

"You have a guy that's disruptive at the top of the order, that's what you want," Gibson said. "It's key to get your guys on in front of your big boys."

--Sarah McLellan

View from the press box: Through five games of this eight-game homestand, the Diamondbacks went 3-2 against both teams ahead of them in the division. But the team right behind them, the Padres, is up next and San Diego has won seven in a row at Chase Field and eight of the past nine meetings overall. The Diamondbacks have to change that momentum when the series begins Tuesday.

--Bob McManaman

17 Sep, 2012

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