Corbin keeps moving, delivers bounceback start vs. Giants

WASHINGTON – The last time Patrick Corbin took the mound, he allowed a season-high 10 runs across just three innings in a blowout loss to the D-backs at Chase Field.

On Monday, Corbin returned to Nationals Park looking to improve on that earned run total in the series opener against the Giants.

Corbin hurled six innings with four runs allowed off seven hits, two homers and one walk in the Nationals’ 4-1 loss. The southpaw also struck out six over 90 pitches.

“Before that last one [in Arizona], I felt like I was throwing the ball pretty good,” Corbin said. “Sometimes those happen. Everything I threw up there felt like it was just getting hit. So you just try to move on from that as quick as you can, focus on the good things you’ve been doing.”

Corbin found himself working back from a four-run deficit after the third inning. He minimized the damage to keep the Nationals in the game.

“For the most part, he kept the ball down,” said manager Dave Martinez. “When he’s down, he’s been throwing the ball really well. He didn’t throw that many changeups today; he felt like he didn’t really need it. But his slider was good, his fastball was good.”

In the first at-bat of the night, Corbin’s second pitch to Tyler Fitzgerald was a 90.5 mph sinker low in the zone. Fitzgerald connected on it for a Statcast-estimated 416 foot home run to left-center field at 103.2 mph.

It was the 10th lead-off homer allowed by Corbin over his 12-year career. Corbin’s last lead-off home run given up was by Braves slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. on Sept. 22, 2023 -- the third he allowed last season.

“First batter of the game, if that happens there’s a lot of game left,” Corbin said. “It was a fastball that missed more middle. Sometimes it takes you a pitch or two to really locate your fastball. It’s just unfortunate that he hit that one out of the ballpark.

“He’s been hot. I think he’s got 11 or so homers in the last couple weeks, so it’s pretty impressive what he’s doing. But you’ve still got to attack these guys first batter of the game and go from there.”

Two innings later, Corbin walked Michael Conforto on a 1-2 count to put runners on first and third with two outs. In the next at-bat, Corbin surrendered a 409-foot, three-run dinger to Matt Chapman. The Giants' third baseman belted the 67.8 mph slider 107.9 mph to left field.

“He threw his one mistake: He walked Conforto,” said Martinez.

The 40.1 mph differential between pitch and exit velocity was notable. In the Statcast Era, there have been only 16 home runs hit off a pitch velocity less than 68 mph with an exit velocity greater than 107 mph.

“It was one of the slower breaking balls I’ve been throwing,” Corbin said. “It just got a little bit too much of the plate inside. It’s been a good pitch – a lot of hitters seem to take it or don’t have the best of swings on it. It was just one of those where maybe he saw it his first at-bat and kind of just sat on it there. That was one mistake that unfortunately tonight led to three runs.”

Corbin retired the side in the fourth inning. He escaped a jam with runners on the corners and one out in the fifth frame. Conforto hit a 102.7 mph comebacker to Corbin, who swiftly started an inning-ending double play.

“You always think the ball comes back to you,” Corbin said. “It’s something my mom told me when I was in Little League – just think what you’re going to do with the ball … We worked on it all Spring [Training]. Obviously it’s something that I’ve done quite a bit in my career. So you just have that awareness to do that.”

Corbin (2-12, 5.88 ERA) continues to pursue his 100th career win in his next start.

“I think overall, located well, mixed up pitches,” said Corbin. “It just stinks when you give up the three-run homer there on a mistake. But I think there were some positives today to move forward with.”