Corbin wins 11th, leads Diamondbacks past Brewers
PHOENIX -- In his final start before the All-Star Game, Patrick Corbin demonstrated Friday why he was a shoo-in to make the National League team.
Corbin became the fourth NL pitcher to 11 victories. He struck out 10 in Arizona's 2-1 victory over Milwaukee, finishing a first half odyssey that took him from a contender for the No. 5 spot in spring training to staff ace.
"I just wanted to come in and be consistent and try to get better start by start. It's something I think I've done," he said.
"I learned a lot. I want to continue on to the next half and try to keep it going and do as much as I can to help these guys win.
Corbin (11-1) pitched 6 1/3 innings and had 10 strikeouts for the second straight start before the Diamondbacks used five relievers to get the final seven outs.
David Hernandez struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second save after the Brewers left the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings. Milwaukee had runners on first and third with no outs but could not score in the seventh.
Arizona center fielder A.J. Pollock made a diving catch of pinch-hitter Martin Maldonado's line drive to short center off Heath Bell with two outs in the eighth to preserve the Diamondbacks' lead.
"It's what we do," Hernandez said. "We grind out victories. We find a way to score enough runs. Finally happy to close out a game for Patrick. Sent him off to New York well."
Corbin joined Adam Wainwright, Jordan Zimmermann and Lance Lynn as NL pitchers with at least 11 wins. Wainwright and Zimmermann are tied for the league lead with 12.
Jean Segura had two of the Brewers' eight hits and scored their run on a wild pitch in the first. He leads the National League with 117 hits.
Jonathan Lucroy had two hits and a walk, and Logan Schafer added two hits for the Brewers (37-55), who have lost three in a row.
"When it rains, it pours," Lucroy said. "You feel like everything than can go wrong does. You can't feel sorry for yourself. You have to keep plugging along. We struggled tonight. We beat ourselves, I think."
All-Star Carlos Gomez struck out four times, with the bases loaded to end the seventh and for the final out of the game.
Paul Goldschmidt increased his NL RBI lead to 77 when he drove in Adam Eaton with a ground ball in the first inning, and the D-backs scored in the second on a Cody Ross single, a groundout and a fielding error by third baseman Yuniesky Betancourt.
Milwaukee left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, making his third start of the season on his 31st birthday, gave up three hits and two runs, both unearned, in six innings. He has allowed one earned runs in his16 innings as a starter this season.
"I'm just trying to do my part. Wherever they want me is where I'll be. It's something I'm not going to get too worked up about," Gorzelanny said when asked if he thought he had done enough to remain in the rotation after the All-Star break.
NOTES: 2B Rickie Weeks played in his 1,000 game with the Brewers, the 11th player to reach that figure. He passed Prince Fielder (998) on Thursday. ... Brewers LF Ryan Braun is unlikely to return from the bereavement list when eligible Sunday, manager Ron Roenicke said. "I texted him today. It's still a tough situation." Braun was placed on bereavement leave Thursday after playing only one game following a month-long absence with a thumb injury. He has been subject of reports that he could be suspended for 100 games, based on the findings of an investigation into the Biogenesis of America clinic in Miami. ... Brewers OF Khris Davis was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to fill out the roster but was not at the park when the game started because of travel issues, Roenicke said. He pinch hit in the seventh inning and struck out with runners on first and third and no outs. ... Milwaukee signed former Arizona RHP Micah Owings to a minor league contract.
