Corbin grinds through six before bullpen hiccup

June 30th, 2018

PHOENIX -- Maybe it was because had faced the Giants three times already this year and they were familiar with him.
Or maybe the Giants had a better game plan in laying off Corbin's slider.
And it could have just been that his stuff wasn't as crisp because he was working with a full week's rest instead of the usual five days.
Whatever the case, Corbin still found a way to battle through six efficient innings Friday night, but the Arizona offense did not support him in a 2-1 loss at Chase Field.
Corbin had dominated the Giants in three previous starts this year, compiling a 1.74 ERA and nearly throwing a no-hitter the last time he faced them at home.
This time around, the Giants scored an early run against him when doubled home in the second inning.

"I thought I threw some good sliders that maybe a couple starts ago they swing at," Corbin said. "We had to make a little adjustment to throw some for strikes there. We threw more changeups today, which was good."
Veteran catcher Jeff Mathis thought the Giants' familiarity with Corbin worked against him.
"I think that's probably got the most to do with it," Mathis said. "You start seeing a guy over and over, you've got to be a little more precise. I thought his slider was pretty good today, but give them credit for being able to lay off and take some of those nasty ones. I think tonight he wasn't able to get that backdoor breaking ball over like he has. For the most part, he grinded. He grinded without some of his best stuff tonight."

Despite that, he left the game after six with the score tied at 1 and the game in the hands of the bullpen with the best ERA in all of baseball.
In a tie game at home, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo typically goes to in the seventh, in the eighth and Brad Boxberger for the ninth.
However, Lovullo decided this time around to open the inning with left-hander against the lefty-swinging despite Crawford being 5-for-15 in his career against Chafin.
"I just thought it was a good matchup for Chafin with how he's throwing the ball," Lovullo said of Chafin who had been unscored upon in 25 of his previous 27 outings. "We definitely discussed it. I liked the matchup with Chafin."

The strategy didn't pay off when Chafin walked Crawford and then gave up an RBI double to Slater.
"I just walked him," Chafin said. "I didn't go right at him today. I was kind of nitpicking at him out there. I feel like I beat myself in that at-bat, trying to do too much, be too perfect, instead of just throwing quality pitches and letting him get himself out."
And the Slater at-bat?
"I missed a spot," Chafin said. "I was trying to go in on him, left the ball middle away and he was able to put the barrel on it. Other than that, the at-bat was in my favor. If I put that ball where I want it, the results are going to be different."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Left 'em loaded: The D-backs had scoring opportunities throughout the game, but none better than in the third when they staged a two-out rally. Nick Ahmed singled, walked and beat out an infield hit to load the bases for . Giants starter , though, got Marte to ground out to short to end the inning.
"Just a night where things offensively we just couldn't really get going," Lovullo said. "We built some innings, we had some opportunities and just couldn't cash in with the big hit. It's just part of the game. It happens sometimes. Suarez had good stuff today and just beat us to the spot in a couple of key situations."

SOUND SMART
Hirano retired the final two batters of the seventh inning to record his 25th straight scoreless appearance, setting a club record. The previous mark was held by J.J. Putz and Brandon Lyon.
Hirano is tied with Shigetoshi Hasegawa for the second-longest scoreless appearance streak by a Japan-born pitcher. Koji Uehara holds the longest streak at 27 appearances, set in 2013.
HE SAID IT
"He was mixing it up really well, moving the ball around to all four quadrants. Tip your cap to the guy. He had us off balance there. Even some of the hits that we got weren't super squared up. He threw the ball well." -- Mathis, on Suarez

UP NEXT
will make his second start post-Tommy John surgery Saturday night when the D-backs continue their three-game series with the Giants at Chase Field. Miller, who had the surgery performed on May 10, 2017, made his season debut against the Marlins on June 25. The right-hander allowed five runs over 3 2/3 innings.