Home runs put Corbin, D-backs in hole
PHOENIX -- Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale was asked Friday afternoon what the biggest difference was between his team's 2-5 homestand to start the season and its just completed 7-3 road trip. Starting pitching, he answered.
Just a few hours later, the Pirates teed off on starter Patrick Corbin and handed the D-backs an 8-7 loss in the opener of a 10-game homestand at Chase Field.
Corbin, who had been the team's best starter three times through the rotation, gave up five runs, including three home runs, in six innings that put the D-backs in a hole out of which they couldn't climb -- though they came close.
"I missed some spots early and wasn't very good," Corbin self-assessed. "I didn't do what I wanted to tonight. You have to execute your pitches."
THREE TAKEAWAYS: Pirates 8, D-backs 7
* Castillo's two home runs gave him five in his last six games. Five of his last six hits left the yard and six of his last seven went for extra bases.
Yet, "I don't feel that good. My timing feels off," Castillo said.
* After the D-backs fell behind 5-1, they climbed back to 5-4 and had couple chances to tie the game but couldn't. They then fell behind 8-4, but through the hustle of Jean Segura and Paul Goldschmidt and with the help of an error on Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer scored three runs and had the bases loaded in the eighth before Yasmany Tomas grounded out.
"They're never going to give up. … We were close but obviously close doesn't count. We wanted to get the victory," Hale said. "You just have to keep throwing punches until the bell rings."
* Silvino Bracho gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in one-third of an inning to raise his ERA to 16.20. He didn't last long when he made the roster out of spring training and Friday was his first appearance since his recall earlier this week.
-- Chris Gabel, FOX Sports Arizona
Corbin fell behind and otherwise couldn't throw his four-seam fastball and changeup for strikes. Catcher Welington Castillo could tell Corbin was off as he warmed up in the bullpen before the game, though Corbin said he felt good at that time.
"I feel like he didn't have his best stuff, locating his pitches well," said Castillo, who homered twice to fuel the D-backs' comeback attempt. "Sometimes pitchers will have a bad warmup in the bullpen and pitch well in the game. But not tonight."
With the roof and outfield panels open for a postgame fireworks show, the ball flew around Chase Field. The two teams combined for six home runs.
"It was a tough night to pitch," Hale said. "The ball, obviously, was really carrying. There were some balls hit pretty hard, though. I don't know if any of those wouldn't have made it out."
Corbin finished his six-inning outing with three scoreless innings. But the damage was done.
"Giving up five runs in those first three (innings) it's a little tough to come back," he said. "The offense did a great job there later in the game to make a run at it. But a couple mistakes early, and in this ballpark if you make mistakes, they're going to go a long way."
Not even a pair of hits, including a hustle, run-scoring double consoled Corbin.
"That was the only thing I did well today," he said.
Corbin also gave up three homers against Colorado in his first start of the season at home. He didn't give up a home run in starts at the Dodgers or Padres.
The D-backs pitching staff as a whole has given up 16 homers at home and four on the road, in 10 games each.
"You have to pitched down and locate here," Hale said. "Those pitches (the Pirates) hit out were center cut and up."