Arizona Diamondbacks' Patrick Corbin one start away from big league return

SAN DIEGO — Left-hander Patrick Corbin had his best outing yet in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, throwing six strong innings on Friday night on his rehab assignment with Double-A Mobile.

Corbin gave up just one run on four hits, walking two and striking out five, and Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said the plan is for Corbin to make just one more rehab start before a return to the majors sometime before the All-Star break.

"He threw the ball well," Hale said. "The first inning was tough on him, but he came back and pitched really well for the next five. I think we're going to give him one more outing down there to make sure he's 100 percent ready."

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Corbin's recovery was delayed by about three weeks last month when he reported not feeling strong after an outing at extended spring training. But he appears to be throwing better with each progressive start since beginning his rehab assignment earlier this month.

Hale said Corbin's fastball was up to 94 mph and that he was mixing in sliders and change-ups on Friday.

"His stuff looked good," Hale said. "I think late as he got into his outing, he got up a little bit, got hurt."

Hale wasn't sure if Corbin would make another start with Mobile or a different affiliate, nor did he know if Corbin would transition to a five-day schedule. He has been pitching every sixth day since beginning his rehab assignment on June 8.

Curve coming

Right-hander David Hernandez left a breaking ball up to the Padres' Matt Kemp to open the eighth inning on Friday night and Kemp lined it into left field for a double.

Hernandez's curveball has been inconsistent in his seven outings since returning from Tommy John surgery, but he believes he actually might have made strides with the pitch after Kemp's leadoff double.

Of Hernandez's 23 pitches on Friday night, 13 were curveballs, and he elicited swings-and-misses on five of them, an encouraging sign.

"It kind of felt like I found something with how I hold it, the pressure I put on it with my fingers," he said. "Hopefully, the next time out there it feels the same way."

Hernandez's issues are fairly standard for pitchers coming off a long layoff like the one had following surgery.

"You kind of lose the feel," he said.

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Short hops

The Diamondbacks had two players selected to play in this year's Futures Game on July 12 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati: Double-A Mobile outfielder SocratesBrito and Low-A Kane County right-hander Wei-Chieh Huang.

Brito, 22, who had an impressive showing in big league camp, is hitting just .263 with two homers in the Southern League.

Huang, 21, signed last year out of Taiwan and has a 1.72 ERA with 38 strikeouts and only five walks in 362/ 3 innings.

•Hale said outfielder Ender Inciarte, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain, likely won't come off the disabled until at least a few days after he is eligible to be reinstated. "I think it's probably going to be in the 18-20 days (range) after the injury," Hale said.

•Rule 5 catcher Oscar Hernandez, who has missed all season following a broken hamate bone in his left hand, is 2 for 9 with a pair of doubles in three games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno. He played five games with Kane County, going 2 for 13, before shifting to Reno.

PHOTOS: Diamondbacks at Padres

Today's game

Diamondbacks at Padres

When: 1:10 p.m.

Where: Petco Park, San Diego

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Chase Anderson (3-2, 3.54) vs. Padres RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (3-5, 4.83).

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

Anderson had a rare rough outing last week in Denver, giving up eight runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Rockies. … He allowed three home runs, the same number of homers he had served up in 13 starts entering the game. … He's faced the Padres twice already this season, giving up a combined three runs in 13 innings. … Despaigne had a strong debut in 16 starts last season, posting a 3.36 ERA in 96 1/3 innings, but he's been far more hittable this season. His strikeout rate is down and he's allowing more hits and more home runs than he did last season. … He has faced the Diamondbacks twice and had mixed results. He gave up one run in seven innings in the first start but was pounded for eight runs in five innings the next time.

Coming up

Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Allen Webster (1-1, 6.46) vs. Dodgers RHP Mike Bolsinger (4-2, 2.95).

Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Rubby De La Rosa (6-3, 4.69) vs. Dodgers RHP Carlos Frias (5-5, 4.31).

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-3, 1.98) vs. Dodgers LHP Brett Anderson (4-4, 3.13).