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First Posted: 7/3/2013
(AP) Jeremy Hefner and the New York Mets handed Patrick Corbin his first loss, breaking away from the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-1 on a drizzly Tuesday night and sending the NL West leaders to their season-worst fifth straight defeat.
Josh Satin hit an RBI double that put the Mets ahead 2-1 in a seven-run seventh inning that lasted about 2 hours, albeit with a rain delay of 1 hour, 41 minutes in the middle.
When Arizona retook the field, there was another halt the grounds crew hadn’t redrawn the batter’s boxes or put a rosin bag on the mound. Corbin was pulled when play resumed and the Mets broke it open against the bullpen, with Omar Quintanilla hitting a two-run single and Eric Young Jr. lining a two-run double.
Anthony Recker, who began the day batting .157, hit a solo home run in the fifth and added an RBI single in the seventh. Quintanilla singled home a run in the eighth.
Hefner (3-6) outpitched Corbin (9-1) as the Diamondbacks continued a most curious streak their starting pitchers are 0-11 in 24 games since June 5. Arizona fell to 1-7 on its road trip after two straight losses to begin this four-game visit to Citi Field.
Hefner allowed four hits, struck out six and walked two in seven innings. It was his sixth start in a row permitting two or fewer earned runs.
Martin Prado homered off Hefner in the seventh, tying it at 1. Prado was the only hitter on the Arizona roster who had previously faced Hefner.
Corbin was trying to become the first lefty starter in the majors to begin a season 10-0 since Ron Guidry opened 13-0 for the New York Yankees in 1978.
The 23-year-old Corbin left with the bases loaded and no outs when play was delayed. All three runners scored, and he was charged with a season-high five runs. He was denied in a sixth try for his 10th win of the season.
Satin doubled home David Wright and extended his hitting streak to eight games, and is batting .390 (16 for 41) this season. Satin has been playing first base since Ike Davis was demoted to the minors, and his lively bat has impressed manager Terry Collins.
NOTES: Arizona OF Gerardo Parra was out of the lineup, a night after jarring himself trying to make a diving catch on the warning track. Parra’s arm was bandaged and he had scrapes on his face. Manager Kirk Gibson said Parra had been due for a day off. … Heath Bell was set to close for the Diamondbacks. J.J. Putz, who blew a save chance Monday night in his first try since going on the DL in May, will work in middle relief for now, Gibson said. … Young started at 2B in place of Daniel Murphy. Collins said Murphy was worn down and “stinkin’ out of gas.” Murphy pinch-hit in the seventh and stayed in. … Wright has taken a lead of nearly 850,000 over the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval in fan voting to start at 3B for the NL in the All-Star game at Citi Field. … Mike Piazza has been added to the roster for the All-Star celebrity softball game at Citi Field on July 14. Comedian Chris Rock, actor Kevin James and singer Ashanti also will take part. … Hefner struck out in both of his at-bats. He is 0 for 23 the most at-bats of any player in the majors this year without a hit. … Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins pitched his 907th game, moving past Cy Young for 22nd place all-time.
Associated Press