Diamondbacks conclude series vs. Astros

The Diamondbacks and Astros conclude their series in Houston.

Follow Nick Piecoro’s updates from the game.

Corbin cruising through 8 IP as D-Backs lead

Left-hander Patrick Corbin has given up just three hits in eight shutout innings, and he and the Diamondbacks took a 4-0 lead over the Astros into the ninth inning on Thursday afternoon.

The only trouble Corbin ran into came in the sixth, an inning that began with a Jake Marisnick bunt single and a George Springer walk. Alex Bregman then hit the first pitch he saw deep to left.

Off the bat, Bregman’s drive looked like it might be a game-tying, three-run homer. Instead, it curled just around the high wall in left and into a strange corner in left-center field at Minute Maid Park, where left fielder Chris Herrmann made a jumping catch.

Corbin then struck out the next two batters – Jose Altuve and Yuli Gurriel – to escape the inning.

The Diamondbacks are looking to split a four-game, home-and-home series with the Astros, who have won the past two days.

D-Backs extend lead, chase Astros’ Fiers

Jake Lamb connected for a solo homer to give the Diamondbacks a 3-0 lead in the sixth, and after J.D. Martinez dropped a single to right two batters later, Astros right-hander Mike Fiers’ day was finished.

Lamb hit the first pitch he saw leading off the sixth inning for a home run, blasting it out to deep right-center field. The home run traveled an estimated 418 feet.

Fiers gave up three runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings on seven hits and two walks.

Descalso’s inside-the-park HR sparks D-Backs

Daniel Descalso’s inside-the-park homer gave the Diamondbacks a run in the fourth inning, extending their lead over the Houston Astros to 2-0 on Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

Descalso’s drive to right-center field took a funny bounce off the wall, angling away from center fielder Jake Marisnick. And after Marisnick tracked it down, he bobbled it on the transfer, allowing Descalso to score easily.

It was the first inside-the-park homer of Descalso’s career and the third by a Diamondbacks hitter this season.

The Diamondbacks scored their first run in the third inning when Jeff Mathis shot an RBI single to right field, driving home Ketel Marte, who walked to lead off the inning before moving to third on a throwing error by pitcher Mike Fiers.

Left-hander Patrick Corbin has allowed just two hits in four shutout innings.

De La Rosa to undergo another Tommy John surgery

Diamondbacks right-hander Rubby De La Rosa will undergo Tommy John surgery, manager Torey Lovullo said, a disappointing turn of events for a pitcher who had been hoping to avoid having the procedure for the second time in his career.

After experiencing elbow discomfort last season, De La Rosa underwent two rounds of stem-cell therapy in the offseason, and as recently as last month was saying he no longer felt anything amiss with his elbow.

But Lovullo said De La Rosa began to have more issues with his elbow after he was sent back to Triple-A Reno earlier this month.

“I know Rubby is extremely proud and wants to perform at an elite level and I think him doing this is going to allow him to get back to where he wants to get back to,” Lovullo said. “I know there’s a lot of risk in having your second Tommy John surgery, but this is what he felt like would be the best thing for him.”

De La Rosa had his first Tommy John procedure in August 2011. With this being his second, he’ll likely need more recovery time than the standard 12 months, meaning he’s likely to miss all of the 2018 season.

Studies have pegged the success rate of a second procedure at far less than a first. While more than 80 percent return from a first Tommy John, that number dips to closer to 60 percent with a second.

In an interview on July 6, De La Rosa was excited about how his elbow felt after stem-cell therapy and strengthening exercises. He said he had moved beyond the point of having his elbow on his mind when he pitched. But it appears his optimism was premature.

“That worked,” he said at the time. “I don’t feel any more of the pain that I felt last year. I just try every day to do all my work, all my treatment and try to get stronger.”

Stem-cell therapy involves extracting bone marrow, spinning it down in a centrifuge and then injecting the resulting substance, which its high concentration of stem cells, back into the elbow in hopes of promoting healing.

A year ago, a pair of Angels pitchers, Andrew Heaney and Garrett Richards, underwent stem-cell therapy in hopes of avoiding Tommy John surgery. Heaney wound up needing the procedure anyway two months later.

Richards, however, appeared to be on the mend and even opened this season in the Angels’ rotation. But he wound up going on the disabled list with a right biceps strain in April and has yet to return.

De La Rosa, who signed a minor league deal in the offseason, began the year on the minor league disabled list and slowly worked his way back. He returned to the majors on June 23, striking out the only batter he faced, hitting 99 mph on the radar gun.

“There was a couple of small snapshots that he gave us; it was pretty spectacular,” Lovullo said. “When he first was recalled and joined us, there were some really good moments. That’s what we’ve got to remember when we think how good he can be when he’s healthy.”

Tomas to see specialist after suffering setback

Yasmany Tomas had a second setback in his recovery from a right groin issue, and the Diamondbacks outfielder will travel to Philadelphia to be examined by a specialist on Monday, manager Torey Lovullo said.

“If you’ve watched him run, the gait is good but there’s a little discomfort that he’s showing and there might be a little limp every now and then, especially when he’s slowing down,” Lovullo said. “He just wants to get to the bottom of it. We want to get to the bottom of it and find out what’s wrong. The specialist will be able to determine exactly what’s happening in that area.”

Tomas hasn’t played in the majors since June 2. He began a rehab assignment in late June but had to leave his third game with what was initially described as “general tightness.” It was later disclosed that Tomas had a second, more severe issue in a different spot in his groin.

Lovullo had said in recent weeks that Tomas was nearing another rehab assignment.

Banda optioned to make room for Peralta

A day after saying left-hander Anthony Banda would remain in the rotation, the Diamondbacks optioned Banda to Triple-A Reno, clearing a spot on the roster for outfielder David Peralta to return from the paternity list.

That leaves the club in need of a starter for Sunday in Minnesota. Lovullo said Triple-A Reno right-handers Matt Koch and Braden Shipley were candidates for the start, and left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland was “possibly” in the mix.

Koch has a 10.06 ERA in eight starts for Reno while Shipley has a 6.06 ERA in 18 outings. Shipley also has posted a 6.35 ERA in 11 1/3 innings in the majors.

McFarland threw 32 pitches in a two-inning relief appearance on Wednesday night, but Lovullo didn’t think that would prevent him from making a short start in a sort of “bullpen day” on Sunday if the club chooses to go in that direction.

“I think he would be able to give us enough,” Lovullo said.

At one point on Wednesday, Lovullo said the club’s “initial” thinking was to have Banda pitch on Sunday. But he later said unequivocally, “Banda is going to start on Sunday.” He said Thursday he did not mean to be as definitive with reporters as he had been the day before.

Peralta was thrust back into the leadoff spot on Thursday after missing the past three days following the birth of his first child, a daughter named Sofia.

“Unbelievable,” Peralta said. “I think it’s something you can’t even describe, all the emotions you feel when you see your first child come out. I was so tired. I didn’t sleep at all. But worth it. For me, worth it. That was the best feeling ever.”

RELATED: Strikeouts mounting as Diamondbacks’ slump continues

Thursday’s game

Diamondbacks at Astros | 11:10 a.m. | FSAZ

Starting pitchers: D-Backs’ Patrick Corbin LHP, 9-11, 4.52 ERA vs. Astros’ Mike Fiers RHP, 7-7, 4.36 ERA

At Minute Maid Park, Houston: Corbin fired 62/3 shutout innings against the Cubs on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, bouncing back from a rough outing at Wrigley Field two weeks earlier. … Corbin has not fared well away from Chase Field, logging a 6.79 ERA in 11 road starts. … OF George Springer (3 for 3, one homer, one double), OF Jake Marisnick (2 for 2, one double) and 2B Jose Altuve (2 for 5, one double) have good career numbers against Corbin, albeit in limited at-bats. … Fiers has not posted good results in his past four outings, allowing 19 earned runs in 201/3 innings. … Prior to that, he had a 2.51 ERA over a 12-start span. … RF J.D. Martinez is 6 for 11 with two doubles and two homers off Fiers, and 1B Paul Goldschmidt is 4 for 11 with two doubles and a home run.

Coming up

Friday: At Minnesota, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (5-5, 2.95) vs. Twins RHP Ervin Santana (12-7, 3.28).

Saturday: At Minnesota, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (14-5, 3.01) vs. Twins LHP Dietrich Enns (0-0, 6.75).

Sunday: At Minnesota, 11:10 a.m., Diamondbacks LHP Anthony Banda (1-3, 7.32) vs. Twins RHP Bartolo Colon (2-2, 4.21).