Paul Goldschmidt leads Diamondbacks to win over Padres

Editor’s note: We are with the Arizona Diamondbacks every game this season and will have you covered here from starting lineups to the last word from the clubhouse.

This is your home for D-Backs game day news and analysis.

Goldschmidt leads D-Backs to win

Paul Goldschmidt drove in three runs to match a team record with his fourth straight multi-RBI game, Patrick Corbin struck out nine in seven innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks rolled over the San Diego Padres 9-3 Tuesday night.

Arizona eked out a one-run victory in the series opener Monday after nearly blowing a 7-1 lead. The Diamondbacks jumped on Clayton Richard (2-3) early in the second game and kept hitting to match the 2008 team for the franchise’s best home start at 10-2.

Arizona became the first team since the 2005 Chicago White Sox to homer in the first inning in five straight games on a solo shot by Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt finished with four of the Diamondbacks’ 16 hits, Chris Owings had three RBIs and Daniel Descalso also hit a solo homer.

Corbin (2-3) allowed two runs and eight hits, including a solo homer by Jabari Blash in the seventh inning.

BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 9, Padres 3

The Diamondbacks are the best in baseball at hitting with two outs — .283 entering Tuesday — and were at it again against Richard.

Goldschmidt got a rare day off Monday and returned with a bang, hitting the first pitch he saw over the left field foul pole into the second deck for a two-out, solo homer.

Arizona scored three more with two outs in the second, on Owings’ two-run triple and Goldschmidt’s run-scoring single. That gave Goldschmidt multiple RBIs in four straight games with a plate appearance, matching a team record set six times previously, last by Welington Castillo in 2016.

A.J. Pollock and Owings each had run-scoring hits off Richard in the fourth inning to push Arizona’s lead to 6-1.

Richard allowed six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Corbin struck out the side in the first inning and gave up a run-scoring single to Yangervis Solarte in the third inning.

– Associated Press

Corbin’s day is done

Starter Patrick Corbin had his best outing of the year, allowing just two earned runs over seven innings while striking out a season-high nine batters. The only time Corbin was in serious trouble was the second inning when he loaded the bases with two outs. But he got pitcher Clayton Richard to ground to second to end the threat. 

Impressive night

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt has improved his average by 31 points and is a triple shy of the cycle.

And it’s only the seventh inning.

Goldschmidt is 3-for-3 so far and has been on base all four times. He knocked in the team’s eighth run in the sixth with a double, advancing to third on a fielding error by left fielder Jabari Blash, before scoring on a sac fly from Yasmany Tomas. 

After beginning action hitting .257, Goldschmidt is currently at .288.

Bye, bye Clayton

The Diamondbacks knocked San Diego starter Clayton Richard out of the game in the fourth inning. Richard gave up an RBI double to A.J. Pollock, an RBI single to Chris Owings – his third RBI of the game – and then walked Goldschmidt, prompting manager Andy Green to summon reliever Craig Stammen from the pen. Arizona’s lead is 6-1 and Richard’s final line was ugly: 3 2/3 innings, eight hits, six earned runs, three walks.

Quick start

The Diamondbacks grew their lead in the second, and it was no surprise who was behind the offense.

A day after he hit his first career grand slam, shortstop Chris Owings smacked a two-run triple to right field, with both runs coming with two outs in the inning. Arizona also had two outs Monday when Owings’ grand slam put the team ahead 6-0 in an eventual 7-6 win.

Next up, Goldschmidt singled in Owings to put the Diamondbacks up 4-0. It was the fourth straight game in which Goldschmidt has multiple RBIs, which ties a club record.

Goldschmidt swung at the first pitch he saw from San Diego starter Clayton Richard and deposited it deep into the left field bleachers for a 1-0 Diamondbacks lead in the first. It was the fifth straight game Arizona has hit a homer in the first inning.

Godley welcomes opportunity

Right-hander Zack Godley has made three appearances this season, and none have been like the others.

He debuted with Triple-A Reno by coming on in relief during the first inning.

His second outing was also considered mop-up duty, as he took to the mound after snow in Reno suspended action until the next day, a first for Godley that he enjoyed because as a duck hunter, he said, he thrives in poor weather conditions.

“I was actually in the clubhouse, and I kept going back out and forth just to see the snow,” Godley said.

Game No. 3 was an official start, and so will his fourth look of the season, but it, too, will be unlike its predecessors. Godley will start Wednesday for the Diamondbacks against the Padres at Chase Field.

“I’m just going to go out and take advantage of the opportunity I have,” he said.

Arizona reconfigured its rotation as it waits for more information on right-hander Shelby Miller’s elbow, with Miller receiving a second opinion Tuesday in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Miller underwent an MRI on Monday, which revealed inflammation, and conferred with team physician Dr. Gary Waslewski.

Instead of naming a starter for Friday’s game, which was supposed to be Miller’s next appearance, the Diamondbacks wanted Godley to pitch Wednesday since they didn’t want him to go too long between games. Godley’s most recent start was last Wednesday; he was scheduled to pitch Monday but was scratched.

As a result of this change, right-hander Taijuan Walker and lefty Robbie Ray have each been pushed back a day, with Walker taking the mound Thursday and Ray opening the series against the Rockies Friday.

“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

Godley was tabbed for this game amid a strong recommendation from the organization’s player development staff. Lovullo said the team hasn’t planned beyond Miller’s initial missed start.

“There were some very good candidates that were throwing the ball in Reno,” Lovullo said. “But we trust and believe in their eyes, and that was their recommendation. He threw the ball very well at the tail end of spring training, and he left a very positive impression on myself and the rest of the staff.”

During his last start, Godley cruised – giving up just one hit and striking out seven through seven scoreless innings. His location was key, he said, as he had strong command of all of his pitches.

Overall, Godley is 10-5 with a 5.34 ERA in 36 major-league games over the last two seasons, with 15 of those starts.

“It’s the kind of start you want every time you go out on the mound regardless of whether it’s down there, up here, the time before you come up here, the time after you go back down there, the time you get up here,” Godley said. “That’s the start you want every time you go out. Giving up one hit through seven innings, that’s about as ideal as you can possibly imagine.”

Elsewhere in the pipeline

Asked what the feedback was on fellow minor-league pitchers Braden Shipley and Anthony Banda, Lovullo said: “They’re throwing the ball OK, not as good as Godley was. That they’re repeating pitches, probably not executing a game plan right now at this point in time.”

Lineup changes

A day after first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was left out of starting lineup to rest, it was third baseman Jake Lamb’s turn to sit Tuesday.

“I had discussions with Jake a couple days ago and told him that this would be the day to have off,” Lovullo said. “It’s hard to sit a player like Jake, and yesterday we did it with Goldy. So I’ll have some criteria that I follow with him like I did with Goldy. You might see him pop up in the game, but it’s a day to give him off just so he can cleanse his mind and refresh his body.”

Outfielder David Peralta also didn’t start against the Padres.

Lineup

1. A.J. Pollock CF

2. Chris Owings RF

3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B

4. Yasmany Tomas LF

5. Brandon Drury 2B

6. Daniel Descalso 3B

7. Chris Iannetta C

8. Nick Ahmed SS

9. Patrick Corbin P

Note: LHP Patrick Corbin (1-3, 3.27) vs. Padres LHP Clayton Richard (2-2, 3.04). David Peralta and Jake Lamb take a seat against Padres left-hander Clayton Richard. Paul Goldschmidt returns from his day off. He entered Monday’s game in the ninth inning for defensive purposes.

Tuesday’s game

Padres at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (1-3, 3.27) vs. Padres LHP Clayton Richard (2-2, 3.04).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Pregame notes

This is back-to-back starts against the Padres for Corbin, who took the loss last Thursday after giving up three runs in six innings; he has a 2.77 ERA over his last six starts against San Diego. … Corbin has allowed three runs or less in each of his four starts. … He won his last start at home, tossing six scoreless innings against the Indians. … Richard was solid his last time out against the Diamondbacks, limiting them to one run on nine hits through 6 2/3 innings; he’s pitched six innings or more in each of his four starts. … He’s also induced six double plays in that span. … Richard has a 3.77 ERA in his career against Arizona but has a 5.20 ERA at Chase Field.

Coming up

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (first start) vs. Padres RHP Trevor Cahill (1-2, 3.44).

Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (2-1, 4.57) vs. Padres RHP Jered Weaver (0-1, 3.91).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-0, 3.42) vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.32).