Martinez, Corbin lead Arizona past Mets

New York — J.D. Martinez hit an early three-run homer, Patrick Corbin pitched eight smooth innings to win his third straight stingy start and the Arizona Diamondbacks coasted past the sinking New York Mets 7-4 on Tuesday night.

Adam Rosales also homered and made a diving stop at third base to begin an inning-ending double play. Paul Goldschmidt doubled twice and drove in two runs as the Diamondbacks boosted their playoff position by winning at Citi Field for the second consecutive night.

New York scored three times in the ninth before Fernando Rodney earned his 29th save in 34 attempts, throwing two pitches to get one out.

Arizona had lost three in a row and nine of 12 before arriving in Queens, but the Diamondbacks have righted themselves against the depleted Mets.

They've won all five matchups this season and 10 of 11 over the last two years.

Coming into the day, Arizona was a half-game behind Colorado for the first NL wild card and 3 ½ ahead of Milwaukee for the league's final postseason spot.

Corbin (11-11) extended his shutout streak to 20 2/3 innings before rookie Amed Rosario hit his third major league homer in the fifth. That was the only run allowed by Corbin, who yielded four hits and two walks while striking out six.

After holding the World Series champion Cubs and AL-leading Houston scoreless in his previous two outings, the left-hander had little trouble with a Mets lineup that featured only a handful of projected regulars. All-Star outfielder Michael Conforto was scratched with a sore right thumb.

New York (54-70) lost for eighth time in nine games and fell to 1-6 on a nine-game homestand.

Pitching in place of injured Steven Matz, lefty Tommy Milone (1-3) gave up a three-run shot to Martinez in the first inning.

It was Milone's first big league outing since May 21 — the journeyman had been sidelined with a sprained left knee.

Rosario's error at shortstop allowed a run to score in the third, and Rosales added a solo homer in the fourth.