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D-backs get sixth straight series win, improve to 13-5

The Arizona Diamondbacks won their sixth straight series taking two of three against the Giants. The Diamondbacks are now 13-5 on the year, tied for the best 18-game start in franchise history.

April 17: Diamondbacks win 1-0
April 18: Diamondbacks lose 4-3 in 10
April 19: Diamondbacks win 3-1

Walker out with torn UCL

At the beginning of this series there were questions surrounding the status of Taijuan Walker. Walker left in the second inning of his start against the Dodgers on Apr. 14 with right forearm tightness. 

On Wednesday, manager Torey Lovullo announced that after getting a second opinion in New York, Walker did in fact have a partial tear in his UCL that will require Tommy John surgery.

“It’s terribly disappointing,” Lovullo said after announcing the news on Wednesday. “I hurt for him, I think this organization hurts for him. One of your players that we were going to count on, is hurting. When he hurts, we all hurt.”

The Diamondbacks will likely recall Matt Koch from Triple-A Reno to start against the Padres on Friday.

Owings’ Status

Chris Owings exited Thursday’s game early after colliding with AJ Pollock tracking down a fly ball.

“Obviously a little shaken up after everything happened,” Owings said. “I felt like he got me more in the back of the head, but after watching the replay, it looked like he got me more in the jaw. Then I kind of whiplashed and hit my head on the ground…I feel like I maybe got lucky this time around.”

Owings said he has had concussions before and doesn’t feel like this instance is anything too severe.

Corbin’s complete game shutout

Patrick Corbin pitched his first career complete game shutout on Tuesday, holding the Giants to one hit across nine innings. Corbin had a no-hitter going into the eighth inning before it was broken up with a single by Giants’ first baseman Brandon Belt.

Corbin has had an impressive start to this season. The southpaw boasts a 1.65 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched, with a team leading 37 strikeouts. Opposing hitters have a .151 average against the lefty.

Ray reaches 600 career Ks

Robbie Ray became the fastest left-handed starter to reach 600 career strikeouts on Wednesday (508.2 innings). Ray went six innings allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in his best start of 2018.

Despite the strong outing from Ray, the Diamondbacks couldn’t complete the comeback. Brad Boxberger came on in the tenth and with one man on, Belt proved to be a thorn in the D-backs’ side for the second consecutive night hitting a two-run shot over the right field fence to put the Giants on top 4-2. The homer was Belt’s 100th in his career.

Back-to-back doubles from John Ryan Murphy and David Peralta in the bottom of the frame put the D-backs within one, but nothing else was going for Arizona as they fell in extras 4-3.

At the Plate

David Peralta extended his hit streak to eight games on Thursday. The Freight Train has now reached base by hit or walk in all 15 games he has played in this season. 

Paul Goldschmidt has hit safely in eight of his last nine games. Goldschimdt is tied for first in the NL since Apr. 9 with 8 extra-base hits. He has three doubles, a triple and four home runs on the year.

AJ Pollock hit his fourth home run of the season, while Ketel Marte hit his first on Thursday.

Next Up

The Diamondbacks will finish up this homestand with a three-game series against the Padres. Koch will get the start on Friday, Zack Godley on Saturday and Corbin on Sunday.

Related posts:

Series In Review: Patrick Corbin, D-backs Sweep Giants

Diamonds in the Desert: D-backs Final Regular Season Homestand

Taijuan Walker, NLDS Starters By The Numbers

DITD Podcast: D-backs enter tough stretch in last month of regular season