Reds at Diamondbacks
Patrick Corbin will attempt for the fourth time to become the first Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher to start a season 10-0 when he faces the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Just like the first two, Corbin's third stab at the milestone resulted in a no-decision Monday against Miami, but he was not the problem as run support was hard to come by.
That was not the case in the series opener as Arizona pounded out 15 hits in an 11-5 rout of the Reds, who entered having won 12 of their previous 14 games at Chase Field. Paul Goldschmidt had two home runs and Jason Kubel was 4-for-5 with three runs scored as the Diamondbacks won their third straight following a four-game slide.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (7-3, 2.64 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (9-0, 2.28)
Leake is beginning to get his due amid a phenomenal run that rivals, or surpasses, that of anyone else on the vaunted Reds staff. He is 7-3 with a 2.00 ERA in his last 12 starts and posted another gem Monday against Pittsburgh, which managed just a run and six hits in seven frames against Leake. The 26-year-old has given up 15 runs and 24 hits in just 17 career innings vs. Arizona.
Corbin gave up two runs on just two hits and a walk in what eventually became a 3-2 loss to the Marlins his last time out. The three straight no-decisions have come on the heels of seven straight winning starts for Corbin. The rising southpaw is 5-0 with a 1.71 ERA at home and has walked just one batter in his last 25 1/3 innings overall.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona CF Gerardo Parra homered Friday and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games, producing a .333 average in that span.
2. Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker needs seven wins to move into third place on the Reds all-time list.
3. Reds RF Jay Bruce has homered in three straight games, as well as five of his last six and six of his last eight.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 4, Reds 3