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PHOENIX -- That new contract in the works for Brandon Webb might have grown a few digits.
Webb became the first pitcher in three years to win his first eight starts, pitching his 13th career complete game to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Thursday. The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner struck out four and didn't walk a batter in his first complete game of the year. He hit one batter. "I felt early on I had good stuff, even in the pen," Webb said. "My arm felt great, the best it's probably felt in three games." The easygoing Webb (8-0) became the first pitcher to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland of the Chicago White Sox in 2005 and the first in the NL since Pedro Martinez for Montreal in 1997, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. "Everything has to go your way for these things to work," Webb said. "Guys hitting in situations and making plays. The bullpen has been coming through. Everything has to fall in place and it has whenever I've been out there." Webb stifled the Phillies on three hits through eight innings before allowing two runs and three hits in the ninth. Philadelphia's first-inning run was unearned. Manager Bob Melvin came to the mound after the Phillies scored two runs in the ninth and had a runner on first with one out. With catcher Chris Snyder almost pleading with the manager to leave Webb in, Melvin relented. "He said 'You've got one batter,' " Webb said. " 'I said, all right.' " Geoff Jenkins then lined one off the pitcher's glove that Webb turned in to a game-ending double play. Webb is one of baseball's biggest bargains, or one of the most underpaid depending on the perspective, but the Diamondbacks are trying to work out a new deal. He is scheduled to make $5.5 million this season as part of a four-year contract that originally guaranteed him $19.5 million and potentially is worth $27.5 million over five seasons. He is due $6.5 million next year, and the Diamondbacks have an $8.5 million option for 2010 with a $1.5 million buyout. • Nationals 8, Astros 3: At Houston, Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak homered and Washington ended the Astros' five-game winning streak. John Lannan (3-3) allowed seven hits in six innings and the Nationals snapped Houston's eight-game winning streak at Minute Maid Park. The Astros averaged 7.3 runs and 11.5 hits in their previous eight home games. • Rockies 9, Cardinals 3: At Denver, Matt Holliday had four singles, Jorge De La Rosa scattered five hits over 5 2/3 innings and Colorado beat St. Louis to salvage a split in their four-game series. Omar Quintanilla added a career-high three hits and Garrett Atkins finished 2-for-3 with a double, triple and two RBIs for the Rockies. • Braves 5, Padres 4: At Atlanta, the Braves finally won a one-run game when Matt Diaz hit a bases-loaded single in the ninth inning. Atlanta was the first team since the 2000 Houston Astros to lose its first nine one-run games. The Braves were the only team in the major leagues without a one-run victory. • Marlins 7, Brewers 2: At Miami, Matt Treanor achieved a career high in RBIs with one swing, hitting a three-run homer to help Florida complete a three-game sweep. Jorge Cantu also homered for the first-place Marlins, who won their fourth game in a row and matched their best start after 34 games (20-14). • Pirates 5, Giants 4: At Pittsburgh, Adam LaRoche hit a go-ahead single in a three-run seventh inning, and the Pirates rallied to complete a three-game sweep. Pittsburgh has won 13 of its last 15 games against San Francisco and swept three-game series from the Giants in three straight seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. San Francisco has lost four in a row overall. |
