Diamondbacks Vs. Giants Recap: Patrick Corbin struggles in 7-3 loss

The Arizona Diamondbacks were unable to take the series from the San Francisco Giants, falling by a score of 7-3 on Thursday afternoon. The Giants used a six-run second inning to their advantage early, and the D-backs were unable to overcome Barry Zito on the mound. Arizona is now 78-78 this season with six games remaining on the schedule.

Patrick Corbin was hit hard by San Francisco. He lasted just three innings after surrendering six runs on seven hits. Zito was much better for the opposition, tossing six innings of three-run ball. The veteran lefty scattered six hits and three walks, striking out three on his way to his 14th win of the season.

Hunter Pence got the scoring going in the second inning with a two-run homer. Hector Sanchez doubled home a run, and then a passed ball plated the fourth run of the game. Marco Scutaro capped everything off with a two-run shot to left field to make the score 6-0.

Chris Young plated two runs in the fourth with a two-out single. Jake Elmore cut the deficit to 6-3 in the sixth with a ground-rule double over the left field wall.

With the Diamondbacks still trailing by three runs, Sanchez hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to make the score 7-3. Sergio Romo entered the ninth and recorded two strikeouts in a perfect inning of work.

The D-backs now return home to Chase Field and will welcome in the Cubs on Friday night.

Diamondbacks Vs. Giants: Patrick Corbin takes the hill for Thursday's series finale

The San Francisco Giants will host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night as the two teams meet for the final time during the 2012 season. The D'backs magic number for elimination from the NL wild card race is down to just two. With the Cardinals not in action on Thursday, Arizona can't be mathematically this afternoon.

Left-hander Patrick Corbin will take the hill for Arizona, he sports a 6-7 record on the season with a 4.36 ERA this season. Corbin struggled in his last outing, being pulled after just three innings of work while allowing five earned runs.

Fellow lefty Barry Zito will be on the mound for the Giants. Zito is 13-8 for the season with a 4.18 ERA. Despite giving up a lot of hits lately, Zito has now started three straight games in which he's allowed two earned runs or less.

The last meeting of the season between these two clubs is scheduled to start at 12:45 p.m. PT from AT&T Park. The game can be seen on Fox Sports Arizona, and radio coaverage will be available from KTAR 620, ESPN Deportes 710 and Jose 106.9.

Cain, Giants Shut Out Diamondbacks 6-0

Pitcher Matt Cain silenced the Arizona Diamondbacks' bats, and the San Francisco Giants sent the D-backs one more step closer to elimination from the postseason with a 6-0 Giants win Wednesday night at AT&T Park.

Even though the St. Louis Cardinals lost their game earlier, the Diamondbacks couldn't hold ground. But Arizona will stay alive for at least another day, win or lose on Thursday, since the Cardinals are off.

The Diamondbacks managed only four hits off Cain, who struck out six in seven innings. Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey hit run-scoring singles in the third inning off losing pitcher Wade Miley (16-11), who still hopes to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award and presumably will get one more start before the season ends.

Cain helped his own cause with an RBI single and went 2 for 2 at the plate. Sandoval had two RBI and Brandon Belt had three hits.

A pair of wild pitches, one by reliever Mike Zagurski and another by Takashi Saito, brought in the final Giants run in the eighth inning. Arizona is 78-77 and has seven games left in its season.

The D-backs' final road game of 2012 is Thursday at 12:45 p.m. in San Francisco, with Patrick Corbin of Arizona making his 16th start of the season and facing SF's Barry Zito.

For more on the Arizona Diamondbacks, go to AZ Snake Pit. Everything San Francisco Giants can be found at McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area.

Diamondbacks vs. Giants lineups: Wade Miley tries to regain form

Wade Miley takes the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight against the San Francisco Giants hoping to recover from a rough month of baseball. Miley (16-10) has gone 2-2 in his last four games with an ERA of 5.34, well above his 3.25 average for the season.

The Giants will hang their hats on pitcher Matt Cain, (15-5, 2.86 ERA) who will be tasked with slowing down the Diamondbacks fresh off a 7-2 series-opening victory last night. Arizona (78-76) has won seven of its last nine games during a desperate charge to make the final wild card spot.

Look for hot hitters Paul Goldschmidt of Arizona and Marco Scutaro of the Giants to extend their hitting streaks to nine and 14 games, respectively.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Adam Eaton, CF
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Justin Upton, RF
4. Miguel Montero, C
5. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
6. Gerardo Parra, LF
7. Cody Ransom, 3B
8. John McDonald, SS
9. Wade Miley, P

San Francisco Giants

1. Angel Pagan, CF
2. Marco Scutaro, 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
4. Buster Posey, C
5. Hunter Pence, RF
6. Xavier Nady, LF
7. Brandon Belt,1B
8. Brandon Crawford, SS
9. Matt Cain, P

Diamondbacks Stay Alive Another Day, Turn Back Giants On Big Night For Goldschmidt

The Arizona Diamondbacks keep fighting to keep their season alive, and Tuesday night's 7-2 win over the NL West champion San Francisco Giants was proof of the D-backs refusal to give in.

Of course, with the St. Louis Cardinals' win over Houston, any combination of three Cardinals wins or Diamondbacks losses means Arizona's hopes of capturing the second NL wild card spot are dashed, and it's time to look ahead to 2013. But the D-backs didn't lose ground to the Cardinals Tuesday, thanks to a towering three-run home run by Paul Goldschmidt off one of his favorite pitchers to face, TIm Lincecum.

Goldschmidt went deep off the left field foul pole in the third inning, and also hit a pair of sacrifice flies in accounting for five D-backs runs but only officially going 1-for-2. Goldschmidt is 8 for 15 with five home runs and 11 RBI in 2011 and 2012 against Lincecum.

On a chilly autumn night by the Bay, Aaron Hill had three hits, and a pair of Giants wild pitches allowed two more Arizona runs to score. Josh Collmenter (5-3) started for the Diamondbacks and held the Giants to a run on two hits with four strikeouts over five innings.

Arizona has won four of their last five games and improved to 78-76 with eight games left in the season, including six at home starting Friday. Wade Miley (16-10) takes the mound hoping to keep the D-backs alive for another day Wednesday night at AT& Park.

For more on the Arizona Diamondbacks, go to AZ Snake Pit. Everything San Francisco Giants can be found at McCovey Chronicles and SB Nation Bay Area. If that's not enough baseball, head over to Baseball Nation to get your fix.

Kirk Gibson has no interest in potential Detroit job opening

Kirk Gibson told Arizona Sports Radio 620's Burns and Gambo that he has unfinished business as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he's comfortable in Arizona despite the potential manager job opening up for his former team, the Detroit Tigers.

With rumors of current manager Jim Leyland retiring after this year, the radio hosts asked Gibson if he'd have interest in heading back to Detroit, according to 620's website.

"I really love where I am at right now and really enjoy this organization," Gibson told them, referring to his job with the Diamondbacks. "Right on down the line, from Ken [Kendrick] and Derrick [Hall] to Kevin Towers and the front office people I work with, I feel like we are just getting started here."

Gibson also said he sees a bright future with the Diamondbacks, despite the team taking a step backward this season. After winning the division last season, Arizona is likely to miss the playoffs this year. It is 5.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot with only 10 games to play.

Gibson played for the Tigers from 1983-87. He won a World Series in 1984 and after three other stops, returned to Detroit to retire with the Tigers in 1995.

Diamondbacks vs. Giants Lineups: Arizona Tries To Slow Down Tim Lincecum

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum eyes his third straight victory on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Francisco. With the division locked up, Bruce Bochy is giving the former ace a chance to earn his first such streak of this season, one that's gone poorly with a 10-14 record.

Arizona will put Josh Collmenter (4-3) on the mound to open the series, and it'll be his first start since July.

The Diamondbacks stand 5.5 games back of the second wild card spot in the National League, but with 10 games remaining in the regular season, manager Kirk Gibson's team is riding on mathematical hope that is quickly dwindling.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1. Adam Eaton, CF
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Justin Upton, RF
4. Miguel Montero, C
5. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
6. Jason Kubel, LF
7. Ryan Wheeler, 3B
8. John McDonald, SS
9. Josh Collmenter, P

San Francisco Giants

1. Angel Pagan, CF
2. Marco Scutaro, 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
4. Buster Posey, 1B
5. Hunter Pence, RF
6. Hector Sanchez, C
7. Gregor Blanco, LF
8. Brandon Crawford, SS
9. Tim Lincecum, P

This post originally appeared on SB Nation Bay Area.

Diamondbacks Vs. Giants Series Preview

The Arizona Diamondbacks are 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. They'll have to beat the NL West Champion San Francisco Giants if they even want a shot at getting in the playoffs.