Arizona @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2012 ) Arizona 8, San Diego 5
The Arizona Diamondbacks finally got in the win column against the San Diego Padres. On Sunday, they will try to get the series victory as the National League West rivals square off in the rubber match of their three-game set at Petco Park. Arizona had lost seven straight meetings with San Diego before posting an 8-5 triumph on Saturday on the strength of four home runs, including two by Jason Kubel.
Kubel's second blast, which followed Aaron Hill's leadoff shot in the Diamondbacks' three-run third inning, was his career-high 29th of the year. He eclipsed his previous high set in 2009 while with Minnesota. Arizona, which is 5 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the NL's second wild-card spot, is 5-4 on its 10-game road trip. Saturday's loss was the Padres' fifth in 18 overall games and sixth in 23 home contests.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Arizona, San Diego)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (5-6, 4.13 ERA) vs. Padres LH Andrew Werner (1-1, 3.00)
Corbin is winless in his last three starts, including a no-decision at San Francisco on Monday in which he yielded four runs over five innings. The 23-year-old rookie is 2-0 over his last four road starts after losing his previous two, both in May. Corbin dropped his first career start against San Diego on Aug. 24, surrendering four runs and nine hits in four frames.
Werner will be making his fourth career start after posting nearly indentical numbers in each of his first three. The 25-year-old allowed two runs and four hits over six innings while defeating Pittsburgh on Aug. 22 and losing to Atlanta six days later. In his third outing, Werner gave up two runs and five hits over six frames at Los Angeles but did not figure in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego OF Carlos Quentin has missed three of the last four games with right knee irritation.
2. Kubel's multi-homer performance was the 10th of his career and fourth this season.
3. Arizona LHP Wade Miley walked three on Saturday, snapping his streak of 24 straight starts with two or fewer walks issued.