Nick Piecoro

azcentral sports

When Marcell Ozuna swung through a slider to end the sixth inning on Friday might, the Diamondbacks seemed to have everything under control.

Left-hander Patrick Corbin had retired 11 consecutive batters and was aiming for a complete game. The Diamondbacks owned a commanding four-run lead. They appeared well on their way to a series-opening win against the Miami Marlins.

An hour later, they were left trying to pick up the pieces from perhaps their ugliest loss of the year, an 8-6 debacle that followed a seven-run seventh inning for the Marlins. In the process, they left some carnage in the road.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Corbin questioned the coaching staff’s trust in him. He said that after giving up a double to Giancarlo Stanton to open the seventh inning, he noticed the bullpen beginning to stir, and he thinks it contributed to what happened next.

BOX SCORE: Marlins 8, Diamondbacks 6

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After striking out Chris Johnson, Corbin issued consecutive walks to Miguel Rojas and Jeff Mathis before giving way to reliever Tyler Clippard, who served up the game-tying, pinch-hit grand slam to Justin Bour.

“I just left a slider to Stanton,” Corbin said. “I think the bullpen got up right after that. I thought I had to maybe bear down a little bit and almost pitch around guys, trying to throw perfect pitches. I don’t know. It’s tough to go out there when you give up a hit – you just want some trust in you. Maybe show some trust in the starter that they can work their way out of that.”

Corbin said that because of the movement in the bullpen he felt he had to prevent Stanton from scoring in order to remain in the game. His pitch count at that point was at 82.

“After the double, I just, I thought I was pitching around guys … instead of pitching my game and being aggressive and not worrying if that runner scores,” he said. “That’s something that I need to do better.”

Manager Chip Hale spoke to reporters before Corbin did. Most of the questions he was asked were about the moves that led to Clippard facing Bour, who entered the game 2 for 3 with two homers off the reliever.

Corbin’s walks loaded the bases, and the Marlins sent pinch-hitter Cole Gillespie to the plate. Hale then went to the mound to summon Clippard, prompting Marlins manager Don Mattingly to counter with Bour.

Hale said he expected the move, but he believed Clippard would get the job done.

“It’s not a great matchup, but it’s a guy who has been handling the seventh inning for us all year,” Hale said. “I knew, even though they put Gillespie out there, that it would be Bour once I brought him in. I just thought Patrick was done at that point.”

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The loss dropped the Diamondbacks to a season-worst 11 games under .500. It also dropped them into last place in the National League West.

“Was this your toughest loss of the season?” a reporter asked Hale.

“No,” he said. “They’re all tough. What do you mean by ‘mine’? Just because I brought him in and he gave up a grand slam?”

Clippard didn’t make it sound like it was just any other loss to him.

“It’s frustrating,” he said. “We’re going through it right now. This one hurts, hurts in a big way. We’ve been struggling all year trying to find some momentum. Patrick pitched great. And we came in and didn’t do our job. It’s frustrating. We need to start rolling off some wins. We had a chance to do that tonight and we didn’t do it. Yeah, it hurts.”

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

Saturday’s game

Marlins at Diamondbacks

When: 7:10 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (4-5, 3.61)* vs. Marlins RHP Jose Fernandez (9-2, 2.29).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KSUN-AM (1400).

* – Stats from minor leagues

Godley had a 3.19 ERA in 36 2/3 innings last season for the Diamondbacks. … He had a 5.34 ERA in his first five outings this season but posted a 2.31 ERA in his past six. … His most recent outing was his best: He gave up three hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings against Salt Lake. … Fernandez’s past six starts have been incredible. He has allowed just three runs in 41 innings (0.66 ERA), striking out 63 while walking just nine. … That run began after he faced the Diamondbacks on May 4, when he gave up three runs in five innings. … Right-handed hitters are hitting just .177 off Fernandez this season.

Coming up

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-1, 4.94) vs. Marlins LHP Adam Conley (3-3, 3.76).

Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (8-3, 3.84) vs. Dodgers RHP Mike Bolsinger (1-3, 5.75).

Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Archie Bradley (2-2, 5.22) vs. Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (5-4, 2.70).