By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
After defeating five-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke for the second time this season, the Philadelphia Phillies (64-49) will play for their 19th series victory Wednesday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks (63-52) at Chase Field. Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez will oppose southpaw Patrick Corbin in the three-game series finale.
The Phillies snapped their four-game skid at Chase Field on Tuesday, behind right-hander Nick Pivetta's six scoreless frames — in which he allowed just five hits and one walk while punching out six batters on 96 pitches and 63 strikes. Nick Williams got the Phillies on the board first with a solo home run in the third. The game would remain 1-0 in favor of the road team until the eighth, when three insurance runs were added, highlighted by Asdrubal Cabrera's two-RBI double to right center and Jorge Alfaro's RBI single to left center. Pat Neshek notched his second save with just a five-pitch ninth inning.
Over their last eight games, Phillies starting pitchers have combined for a 1.47 ERA and 0.764 WHIP over 55 innings, allowing just 35 hits, nine earned runs and seven walks, while punching out 45 batters.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (64-49) | Arizona Diamondbacks (63-52) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Vince Velasquez | LHP | Patrick Corbin | ||
| (8-8, 3.80 ERA) | (8-4, 3.31 ERA) | ||||
RHP Vince Velasquez, Age: 26
- 2018 vs. ARI: 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 4.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 6 SO, 1.286 WHIP
- Career vs. ARI: 1-1, 2.70 ERA, 4 G, 2 GS, 13.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 17 SO, 0.975 WHIP
- Career at Chase Field: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, 1.000 WHIP
Velasquez has surrendered two runs or less in each of his last six starts since June 25, tossing less than five innings just once. The right-hander has posted a combined 2-0 record, 1.03 ERA and 0.911 WHIP over his last five outings, along with a 24-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The right-hander has 49 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings and nine starts on the road this season.
LHP Patrick Corbin, Age: 29
- 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
- Career vs. PHI: 2-2, 4.44 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 24 1/3 IP, 24 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 18 SO, 1.233 WHIP
- Career at Chase Field: 28-25, 3.55 ERA, 81 G, 72 GS, 462 IP, 449 H, 193 R, 182 ER, 46 HR, 129 BB, 442 SO, 1.251 WHIP
Over his last three starts, Corbin has struck out at least eight batters while tossing no fewer than six innings. The two-time All-Star, six-year veteran southpaw last opposed the Phillies on June 23, 2017, at Chase Field, a start in which he suffered the losing decision despite allowing just one run through 6 2/3 frames on 109 pitches and 73 strikes.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (64-49) | Arizona Diamondbacks (63-52) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | RF | Jon Jay | L |
| 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | 1B | Paul Goldschmidt | R |
| 3 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 3 | LF | David Peralta | L |
| 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | CF | A.J. Pollock | R |
| 5 | 3B | Asdrubal Cabrera | S | 5 | 3B | Eduardo Escobar | S |
| 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 6 | 2B | Daniel Descalso | L |
| 7 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 7 | SS | Ketel Marte | S |
| 8 | P | Vince Velasquez | R | 8 | C | Alex Avila | L |
| 9 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 9 | P | Patrick Corbin | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 3:40 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP, MLBN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- With the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals splitting their Tuesday doubleheader, the Phillies sit 1 1/2 games atop the National League East with 49 games remaining in the regular season.
- In five games and 24 plate appearances this season against the Diamondbacks, Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez is slashing .364/.417/.409 with four runs scored, seven singles, one double, one RB I, two walks and seven strikeouts.
- Phillies infielder J.P. Crawford (broken left hand) could rejoin the Phillies as early as Wednesday, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. In seven rehab games with the GCL Phillies East and Clearwater Threshers since July 30, Crawford is slashing just .105/.393/.158 with five runs scored, one single, one double, four RBI, nine walks and nine strikeouts spanning 28 plate appearances. Crawford last played on June 19, home against the St. Louis Cardinals.
What's Next:
Friday, August 10, 2018: at San Diego Padres, 10:10 p.m.
- Petco Park, San Diego, Calif.
- RHP Zach Eflin (8-3, 3.61 ERA) vs. RHP Jacob Nix (MLB Debut)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
