San Diego @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2012 ) San Diego 8, Arizona 6
The San Diego Padres attempt to extend their winning streak to five games Friday, when they begin a three-game series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. San Diego ended a five-game losing streak Sunday with a 7-1 triumph over San Francisco on Sunday, then completed a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh with a 4-2 win on Wednesday. The Padres, who have lost three straight on the road, registered their first-ever sweep at Chase Field from July 2-4.
Arizona salvaged a split of its four-game series against Miami by sweeping a doubleheader by a combined score of 6-2 on Wednesday. The Diamondbacks won four in a row on the road before beginning their 10-game homestand versus the Marlins. Arizona still finds itself in the playoff race as the club trails first-place San Francisco in the National League West by six games and is 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego, Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Stults (3-2, 3.06 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (5-4, 3.60)
Stults will be making his fourth consecutive start and eighth in 12 appearances this season. The 32-year-old won his first two outings after rejoining the rotation before escaping with a no-decision against San Francisco on Saturday, when he allowed five runs in six innings. Stults suffered his first loss in three career decisions versus Arizona on June 3 as he surrendered six runs - three earned - over 6 1/3 frames.
Corbin improved to 3-0 over four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Reno despite yielding four runs over seven innings at Houston on Saturday. The 23-year-old rookie, who allowed two runs or less in each of his previous three outings, went 2-3 in five starts earlier this year. Corbin made his only career appearance against San Diego on July 3, surrendering two runs - one earned - over 4 1/3 innings of relief.
WALK-OFFS
1. The division rivals will meet six more times this year following this series.
2. San Diego's Everth Cabrera has converted 28 consecutive stolen-base attempts dating to last season, a franchise record.
3. The Padres have won four straight games at Arizona after losing 24 of 30.