Rockies at Diamondbacks
There are a couple reasons why left-hander Patrick Corbin might be extra motivated when the Arizona Diamondbacks try for a series sweep against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Corbin, who was named to the National League All-Star team Saturday, is coming off his first loss after starting the season 9-0. Corbin will be joined on the team by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who leads the NL with 73 RBIs and is another big reason why Arizona leads the NL West by a season-high 4 1/2 games.
Colorado, which is tied for second in the West with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has three All-Stars - starters Carlos Gonzalez (center field) and Troy Tulowitzki (shortstop) and reserve outfielder Michael Cuddyer. Tulowitzki is close to returning from a rib injury while Gonzalez was back in the lineup Saturday and homered among his four hits after missing Friday's game with a sore back. Roy Oswalt, who has lost all three outings in his return to the major leagues, starts for Colorado on Sunday.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Fox Sports Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Roy Oswalt (0-3, 7.88 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (9-1, 2.49)
Oswalt said he was too reliant on his fastball in Tuesday's 8-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers when he allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings. Oswalt, who has allowed nine hits in each start, has struck out 21 and walked two in 16 innings. The 35-year-old Kosciusko, Miss., native is 9-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 starts against Arizona, but has not faced them since 2011 when he allowed five runs in three innings of a 7-5 loss while with Philadelphia.
Corbin allowed five runs and six hits in six innings of a 9-1 setback against the New York Mets on Tuesday at Citi Field, site of the All-Star Game. Corbin is winless in his last six outings, but the Diamondbacks are 15-2 in his starts this season. The 23-year-old Clay, N.Y., native is 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies, including his only career complete game - a 5-1 victory at Colorado on May 20 when he allowed three hits and struck out 10.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gonzalez, Tulowitzki and Cuddyer were each selected to the All-Star team for the second time, while Corbin and Goldschmidt are making their first appearances. Gonzalez leads the National League with 24 homers while Goldschmidt hit his 21st in Saturday's 11-1 victory.
2. Arizona LF Cody Ross tied a club record with a career-high five hits Saturday.
3. The Diamondbacks have recorded an extra-base hit in a major league-best 71 consecutive games.