Corbin Earns Win In Major League Debut Thanks To Solid Support From Makeshift Offense

It looked like runs might be hard to come by Monday with Jason Kubel (illness), Miguel Montero and Aaron Hill (both resting) sitting out of the series finale but the Diamondbacks were able to scrape across more than enough runs to help Patrick Corbin earn the 9-5 win in his major league debut. Willie Bloomquist, Cody Ransom and Justin Upton had two RBIs each and the latter two also both hit their second home run of the season.

Corbin had his fair share of shaky moments throughout his coming out party, serving up eight hits, three walks and three runs in his 5.2 innings. Yet every time it began to look like the Marlins might have a big inning, Corbin flipped the damage control switch, compiling two double plays, striking out six and making some fine defensive plays in the process.

The spring training darling was also given a nice, comfortable cushion with the D-backs batters getting to Mark Buehrle (who was surprisingly facing Arizona for the first time in his long career) early and often. With Ransom setting the tone in the second by hitting a two run bomb off the veteran lefty, Buehrle would go on to give up seven total runs (five earned) in five chaotic innings.

Miami did make it interesting in the sixth and seventh innings, adding five runs to cut the lead to two. But every opposing team's favorite closer Heath Bell entered in the top of the ninth, handing the D-backs two more easy runs before J.J. Putz came in and closed the door.

With the victory, the D-backs take three of four from the Marlins. Arizona now heads to Washington for a three game set against the surprising Nationals and the Bryce Harper fellow.

Arizona Diamondbacks Roster Moves: Patrick Corbin Called Up From Double-A

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced via press release that they have selected lefty Patrick Corbin from Double-A Mobile, optioned righty Joe Martinez to Triple-A Reno and transferred infielder Geoff Blum from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Executive Vice President and GM Kevin Towers made the announcement.

Corbin was ranked as the Diamondbacks no. 8 prospect by MLB.com and No. 10 by Baseball America heading into 2012. He's only started four games this season for Mobile but is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings pitched and 25/8 strikeouts to walks ratio. Corbin, 22, will be the fourth-youngest pitcher to make his first big league start in a Diamondbacks uniform.

Corbin was part of the deal that brought in pitchers Joe Saunders, Tyler Skaggs and Rafael Rodriguez from the Angels in 2010 for pitcher Dan Haren.

Blum, 38, has a strained left oblique muscle has been on the disabled list since April 18.

For more on the Diamondbacks, head over to AZ Snake Pit.

Animated Gif Of Home Run Structure In Marlins Park

Vladimir Guerrero Working Out With Diamondbacks, Even Kevin Towers Is Unsure Why

The Diamondbacks' general manager, Kevin Towers, released some interesting information on Sunday afternoon as the club took on the Marlins: Vladimir Guerrero would be working out with the club on Monday. The news comes as a bit of a surprise, especially given the outfield depth already assembled on the roster. It really doesn't make any sense at all, as SB Nation Arizona made note of on Sunday.

Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic got a chance to talk with Towers about working out Vlad this week and potentially adding the 37-year-old outfielder to the roster.

Kevin Towers shrugged when asked what kind of role Vlad Guerrero could fill: "I'll have a better idea depending on what I see tomorrow."

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 29, 2012

And another tweet:

Towers seemed to be saying, 'What the heck? Might as well' when it comes to working out Vlad tomorrow.

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 29, 2012

Certainly interesting, although it doesn't sound like anything is remotely close to happening in Arizona. This really is a no-risk situation for the Diamondbacks, although they would likely be spending $1 million dollars or so to bring the veteran to the desert. Given Guerrero's inability to play defense in the outfield anymore, it seems like a poor fit.

For more on the D-backs, check out AZ Snake Pit.

Diamondbacks Land Marlins In 'Wade's World' Win, 8-4

Wade Miley is creating a difficult, but good problem for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The lefty is making a strong case for a spot in a rotation that was already a bit crowed and will be again when Daniel Hudson returns from the disabled list.

Miley lowered his season ERA to 1.29 with a strong outing that included taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before he gave up his first and only hit of the day. He finished with 6.1 innings, one hit, one run (unearned), two walks and six strikeouts.

That one unearned ran snapped a 13-inning scoreless streak for Miley. This season he's been near perfect with the only bump coming against the red-hot Braves who got two hits off him when he replaced Josh Collmenter in the middle of the inning with two runners on board.

Offensively, the D-backs bats continued to make Marlins starter Josh Johnson wish he could reset the season.

Arizona got to Johnson with a couple of runs in the first five innings before blowing the game open with a five-run fifth. Aaron Hill led-off with a single, Miley bunted him over and then Willie Bloomquist drove him in to get things started.

The Marlins brought in Mike Dunn to replace Johnson, but that didn't work out so well. They walked Justin Upton to get to Jason Kubel who's been hitting the cover off the ball. Kubel drove in Upton and Bloomquist with a double and Cody Ranson added two more with another double after Miguel Montero walked.

When the inning was over, the D-backs were up 8-0 heading into the seventh inning. Unfortunately, the bullpen didn't show up in garbage time. Newly called up lefty Mike Zaguarski gave up three runs in the ninth which forced the D-backs to bring in Bryan Shaw to finish things off.

Another young lefty, Patrick Corbin, will take the mound and make his major league debut on Monday in place of Josh Collmenter who's been sent to the pen to work on his command. The final game of this four-game series in Miami starts at 9:40 a.m. but will not be televised.

Other notes via D-backs PR staff:

• D-backs' 5-run sixth inning matched a season high for the second time (April 22 vs. Braves - 2^nd inning).
• CF Gerardo Parra has driven in a run in 5 of his last 7 games.
• 2B Aaron Hill has reached base safely in 17 straight games and 19 of 21 games overall.
• LF Jason Kubel has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games.
• SS Willie Bloomquist has hit safely in 5 straight games.
• C Miguel Montero has hit safely in 5 straight games.

Arizona Diamondbacks Going To Work Out Vladimir Guerrero ...Why?

Diamondbacks Injury Updates: Chris Young, Stephen Drew Improve; Daniel Hudson To Begin Throwing

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been hit hard by the injury bug thus far in 2012 but they appear to be getting closer and closer to having their roster back in place. General manager Kevin Towers spoke and gave updates on various injured players on Sunday afternoon, including ones on Stephen Drew, Chris Young and Daniel Hudson.

Drew continues to make progress and played three simulated innings earlier in the week. The team will now see how his ankle reacts before increasing his workload. As long as Drew does not suffer any setbacks in the coming weeks, it seems like a return near or around June 1 seems reasonable.

Young, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, will begin taking swings this week. He will need to make sure his shoulder is completely sound before taking hacks in a game to avoid re-injuring himself, but he also appears on the right road to returning sooner rather than later. A return in 1-2 weeks seems pretty likely.

Hudson will begin playing catch this week and continues to improve from a right shoulder impingement. Shoulders are always a sensitive area for pitchers -- and especially those who throw as hard as Hudson does -- so the D-backs will take every precaution as he begins throwing again.

Finally, Takashi Saito appears likely to miss another 2-3 weeks before returning to the mound. He will need to make numerous appearances in a Minor League rehab assignment before evening thinking about joining the bullpen in Arizona.

For more on the Diamondbacks, check out AZ Snake Pit

Josh Collmenter Sent To Bullpen, Patrick Corbin To Start For Diamondbacks On Monday

Before the team's 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Saturday, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson announced who would make the start on Monday morning for the series finale. He said that left-hander Patrick Corbin would get called up from AA Mobile to make his major league debut.

Right-hander Josh Collmenter, who was the third starter on the team and had struggled for the most part so far this season, is now in the bullpen to fill the role of long reliever.

Gibson refused to get into any specifics as to why Corbin was the guy they decided that they woudl call up, as opposed to Tyler Skaggs, Trevor Bauer or even anyone in AAA Reno. He explained simply that he was the guy that they decided they would call up.

Going back to spring training, he not only threw the ball very well and could have won a spot on the rotation from the start, but he did things that Gibson expects from his pitchers. He fields his position, he covers first base when it is appropriate, holds runners on and handles the bat well.

When they call up Corbin on Monday, there will need to be a coordinating roster move.

Arizona Diamondbacks Lose Lead, Game On Hanley Ramirez Hit, Fall To Marlins 3-2

A day after having Joe Saunders pitch a shutout, they got a strong outing from Ian Kennedy, but the Arizona Diamondbacks offense could not muster anything after the first inning . They put up two first inning runs, but did not get a hit after the second inning. Then the Miami Marlins put up single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to come away with a walkoff 3-2 win over Arizona.

In the top of the first inning, Willie Bloomquist led off the game with a double and scored when Gerado Parra followed up with a double of his own. Miguel Montero singled him home, and that was it for the scoring for the Diamondbacks. The only other baserunners for them were a pair of walks.

Miami starter Anibal Sanchez struck out 14 in seven innings.

The Marlins scored in the seventh on a triple by Omar Infante and a single by Jose Reyes. In the eighth, David Hernandez gave up a homer to Logan Morrison.

In the ninth, Brad Zeigler was the man on the mound for Arizona. Giancarlo Stanton singled and went to second on a fielder's choice. The D-backs elected to intentionally walk Jose Reyes to pitch to Hanley Ramirez, who was mired in an 0-26 slump. Ramirez singled to left to end the game.

The win went to Steve Chisek, while the loss went to Zeigler.

The two teams play again Sunday morning.

Joe Saunders Throws Complete Game Shutout; Diamondbacks Win In Miami, 5-0

The Arizona Diamondbacks lost all three of their recent home series, but are off to a great start on the road. Joe Saunders threw a complete game beauty in the 5-0 win over the Miami Marlins to kick off a 10-game road trip through Florida, Washington DC, and New York.

It was a fairly flawless game for the Snakes who got to Carlos Zambrano in the first inning when they made the hot-tempered hurler pay for beaning Justin Upton in the arm. With two outs, Jason Kubel got his first of four hits on the night (tying a career-high) and Miguel Montero drove him in with a single.

Montero finished the game with three RBI and two hits after he bookended his first inning hit with a double in the ninth that plated Gerardo Parra and Kubel who was intentionally walked to get to Montero.

The D-backs had a chance to blow the game apart in the second, but the only run scored after a bases-loaded, no-out situation came off a sac fly by Saunders.

Those stranded runners didn't matter though, with Saunders pitching like an Ace on the mound.

He went the distance, throwing a gem with just three hits and two walks allowed to go along with five strikeouts. With this outing, Saunders season ERA is now just 0.90 with a WHIP of 0.87. He started slow last season, but is carrying the staff on his back his April.

Saturday's pitching match up features Ian Kennedy (3-0, 3.86) vs. Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 2.79) with the game starting at 4:10 p.m. local time.

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Kirk Gibson Says Josh Collmenter May Not Start On Monday Vs Marlins

Despite a tweet from the official Arizona Diamondbacks Twitter account, manager Kirk Gibson announced that, while left-hander Wade Miley will start against the Miami Marlins on Sunday, he has not yet decided on the starting pitcher for the series finale on Monday morning.

Previously, the team tweeted that Josh Collmenter would start on Monday, but Gibson clarified that statement. If he does not start, Collmenter would be moved to the bullpen.

He said that probably by Saturday he would make a decision as whether to start Collmenter or bring someone up from the minor leagues.

If the latter happens, it would likely be either Patrick Corbin or Tyler Skaggs in AA Mobile. Corbin has been pitching the same day as Collmenter and Skaggs also has had adequate rest.

Trevor Bauer started on Thursday, so he would not probably get the start, as they would not want to make his first major league start on short rest. AAA pitcher Barry Enright also would be out because he also pitched on Thursday. Enright, though, is doing very well in Reno, which is a noted pitching nightmare. In over 20 innings, he has a 1.75 ERA.

Corbin pitched very well in spring training and has continued to do so. He also does all the little things that Gibson expects from his pitching staff -- handle the bat, field the position and hold runners on.

D-backs Vs. Marlins: Wade Miley Gets Start On Sunday, Josh Collmenter On Monday

As the Arizona Diamondbacks try to figure out their starting rotation, news comes from the team on Friday that their starters for Sunday and Monday down in Miami have been set as young lefty Wade Miley will get another start, followed by the struggling Josh Collmenter.

Per the Arizona Diamondbacks on Twitter:

#dbacks Wade Miley @wademiley36 to start Sunday and Josh Collmenter to start Monday at @Marlins

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 27, 2012

Miley has already noted his blase attitude toward him getting work out of the bullpen or in the starting rotation. That laissez-faire attitude has done him well this season, earning 2-0 record and 1.84 ERA in four games pitched this season. On the other hand, some have suggested that Collmenter maybe move to the bullpen after starting the season with a 0-2 record and 9.86 ERA.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Take Talents To South Beach To Face Miami Marlins For 4 Games

The D-backs start their 10-game East Coast roadie against the struggling Miami Marlins