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 The Arizona Diamondbacks weren't sure what was coming next and spent the afternoon swinging through balls or pounding them into the ground.
Relying on a repeating motion that baffled Arizona's hitters, Ross outpitched All-Star Patrick Corbin with eight dominant innings and the San Diego Padres closed out their first winning road trip of the season with a 1-0 win over Arizona on Sunday.
"When your heater, changeup and slider all come from out of your hand like a fastball and then they do different things, it is difficult to pick up," said Diamondbacks left fielder Adam Eaton, who went 0-for-4.
Carlos Quentin had a run-scoring single in the first inning off Corbin (12-2) and Ross (2-4) took it from there, allowing three hits and striking out seven. Huston Street worked a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 20 chances to close out the combined three-hitter.
Behind Ross' gem, San Diego finished 6-4 to win its first road trip since Aug. 24-26 and first of six or more games since June 25-July 4, 2012.
"The guys should be proud about the way they bounced back after the All-Star break," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It was a good road trip."
Corbin had another strong outing, allowing one earned run or fewer for the 12th time in 21 starts.
He just didn't get any help from the offense.
Arizona failed to take advantage of leadoff hits in the second and third innings, and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position for its first 1-0 loss at Chase Field in nearly three years.
"Patrick threw a great game for us but we didn't capitalize on our opportunity to keep the game going," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said.
The series' first two games were blowouts. The Diamondbacks pounded out 17 hits to win the opener 10-0 and San Diego had eight two-out RBIs in a 12-3 win Saturday night.
The finale was a pitchers' duel.
Corbin has been one of baseball's best pitchers this season, entering Sunday's game fourth in the majors with an ERA of 2.41 and an 8-0 record at home. A first-time All-Star, the left-hander won his last start, allowing a run in six innings to beat the Cubs.
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Ross' season has been filled with tough luck. He started the season in the rotation, bounced to the bullpen after returning from the DL and had one win despite allowing no more than three earned runs in four starts.
The right-hander ended a 12-game losing streak -- dating to last season -- his previous start, allowing a run in six innings against Milwaukee.
Ross was sharp against the Diamondbacks, getting them to chase his slider or hit balls into the dirt. He gave up a leadoff single to Eric Chavez in the second inning and a leadoff triple to Pennington in the third, but stranded both.
Ross didn't allow another hit until Pennington's one-out single in the eighth inning and was replaced in the ninth after throwing 101 pitches.
"I've always tried to blend pitches as best as possible and some the swings I got on sliders in the dirt on even counts, (it's) kind of tribute that to looking like a fastball coming out of the hand," Ross said.
Corbin was nearly as good.
He got two quick outs in the first inning, but Chase Headley followed with a triple and Quentin knocked him in with a single. Corbin worked around a pair of base runners in the second inning, then settled into a groove, allowing two more hits the rest of the way.
Corbin was lifted for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning after allowing a run and six hits. He struck out eight and walked none.
"The first two innings, I felt like I was still getting loose," Corbin said. "After that, I felt comfortable, but Ross pitched a great game for them. He has good stuff and today was his day."
NOTES: The Diamondbacks recalled RHP Chaz Roe from Triple-A Reno before the game to replace LHP Tyler Skaggs, who was sent down after allowing seven runs in 3 2-3 innings Saturday night. ... Diamondbacks LF Jason Kubel was scratched from the lineup with a stiff back. ... Arizona RHP Ian Kennedy will try for the 10th straight start to win career game No. 50 when the Diamondbacks open a road series at Tampa Bay on Tuesday. ... San Diego RHP Sean O'Sullivan will try for his first win of the season in the opener of a three-game series against Cincinnati on Monday.
[Associated
Press; By JOHN MARSHALL]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
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