Corbin seeks mechanical tweak after back-to-back duds

SAN DIEGO - It was only 13 days ago when Patrick Corbin stood at the center of the diamond at Nationals Park and got to start the end-of-game handshake line, the kind of honor that's only possible for a starting pitcher when he records all 27 outs.

That 116-pitch shutout against the Marlins represented the high point of a fantastic opening two months in Washington for Corbin. The 29-year-old left-hander was 5-2 with a 2.85 ERA and was making a case to be considered the most consistently excellent starter in a rotation that also includes Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

Twelve days later, Corbin finds himself searching on the mound, needing to fix himself mechanically before his next start after back-to-back duds that erased the good vibes of that shutout win not long ago.

"Just looking forward to my next bullpen," he said. "To be able to go out there and try to work on it and get better."

The Nationals need their $140 million lefty to figure it out soon, because a continuation of his performances the last two times he's taken the mound won't suffice in the long run.

Corbin hoped his eight-run, 11-hit, 2 2/3-inning start in Cincinnati last week would be a one-off, a mere blip in an otherwise sparkling first half to his first season in Washington. But Thursday night's loss in San Diego was equally frustrating, for different reasons.

The Padres didn't beat up on Corbin. He allowed five hits, only one of them for extra bases. But he issued five walks in five innings, including a free pass to lead off both the bottom of the first and bottom of the second, all of this while the Nationals held a 4-0 lead.

"Walking five guys, I don't know if I've done that before," he said.

Corbin has, but not since 2016, when he issued five walks during four different starts for the Diamondbacks. He also did it once in 2013.

Thursday night's performance, though, matched his career high. And the issue was notable to those watching from the dugout.

"His mechanics are a little off right now, causing him to fly open a little bit," manager Davey Martinez said, referring to Corbin's front shoulder. "I think he knows that. He said: 'I've just got to start locating my fastball.' Which is true. We'll get him straightened out."

Corbin admitted the same problem afterward. He realized it early in the game. And he took some solace in being able to make an on-the-fly adjustment that helped a bit.

"Usually I feel like I pick it up fairly quick," he said. "You just kind of feel your mechanics, and you're able to go out there and do it. I just fell behind (batters). I wasn't throwing strike one. I was trying to be too perfect there when I was behind instead of attacking their hitters with everything that I have. I'll just try to learn from that."

Thirteen runs in two starts will motivate a pitcher to head straight to the bullpen and make some tweaks. Corbin's 2.85 ERA from a couple weeks ago now sits at 3.59.

If he's able to recapture his previous form and put together a quality start Tuesday night in Chicago versus the White Sox, this rough patch will be forgotten.

If, however, it happens again, the storyline of Corbin's first half is going to have taken a major turn for the worse.