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Pro Sports
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Friday, May 16, 2008, 10:50 AM
Arizona's Webb first to nine wins; Yankees last in AL East By The Associated Press The Colorado Rockies must be tired of seeing Brandon Webb by now. That probably goes for the rest of the National League, too. Backed by Stephen Drew's career-high four hits, Webb became the major leagues' first nine-game winner when the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Rockies 8-5 on Thursday night. Webb has won his first nine starts, the most since San Diego's Andy Hawkins won his first 10 in 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Webb has won 11 straight starts dating to last September, with three wins this season coming against the Rockies. "Nothing was in the middle," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "The breaking ball was sharp and down, the changeup was a good pitch. The sinker had good late life." Arizona manager Bob Melvin lifted Webb with one out in the eighth after Matt Holliday singled to make it 5-3. Webb threw 111 pitches, and left to a standing ovation from the Chase Field crowd of 21,447. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out eight, a season high. "Doing his thing again," Melvin said, before conceding the only fault he could find in yet another sparkling outing. "He got a little tired at the end." Webb wasn't all that dazzled on a clear, 85-degree night in the desert. Mets 1, Nationals 0 At New York, Willie Harris' diving catch in the ninth helped preserve a win for Jason Bergmann, who was recalled from Triple-A before the game and gave up just three hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings. Mike Pelfrey (2-4) held Washington hitless until Aaron Boone's leadoff single in the seventh. He allowed one run and three hits in 7 2-3 winnings, the longest outing of his career. But he was outdone by Bergmann (1-1), who didn't allow a runner past second. Dodgers 7, Brewers 2 At Milwaukee, Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent and Gary Bennett homered during a six-run seventh inning, leading Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers past Milwaukee. Billingsley (3-5) didn't allow a hit until Brewers starter Ben Sheets, a career .078 hitter, singled with two outs in the fifth. Billingsley gave up three hits and struck out five. Sheets (4-1) allowed six runs off nine hits. He had five strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings. Pirates 11, Cardinals 5 At St. Louis, pinch-hitter Jason Bay's three-run homer off Jason Isringhausen snapped an eighth-inning tie and capped Pittsburgh's rally from a four-run deficit. Isringhausen (1-5) was demoted from the closer's role last week and was serving as the setup man for Ryan Franklin, but ended up with his sixth blown save in 17 chances. John Grabow (3-1) got the last two outs in the seventh for the Pirates. Cubs 4, Padres 0 At Chicago, Ryan Dempster struck out a career-high 12 and hit a go-ahead single against Greg Maddux during a four-run fifth inning for Chicago. Dempster (5-1) allowed six hits in 8 1-3 innings and walked one, leaving after 115 pitches. He retired 15 straight batters after a first-inning single by Brian Giles, who had three hits. Maddux (3-4) allowed four runs and 11 hits in 4 1-3 innings. Astros 8, Giants 7 At San Francisco, Lance Berkman splashed his major league-leading 15th home run into McCovey Cove, breaking a ninth-inning tie and helping Houston rally past the Giants. Tim Byrdak (2-0) got two outs for the win and Jose Valverde struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 14 opportunities. Phillies 5, Braves 0 At Philadelphia, Cole Hamels pitched his first career shutout, Ryan Howard homered and the Phillies moved within a game of the NL East-leading Florida Marlins. Hamels (5-3) gave up four hits, struck out six and walked two in his first complete game of the season. AMERICAN LEAGUE Rays 5, Yankees 2 At St. Petersburg, Scott Kazmir sparkled in his first start since agreeing to a $28.5 million contract extension, and the surprising Tampa Bay Rays dropped the New York Yankees into last place with a 5-2 victory Thursday. Kazmir (2-1) allowed three singles in six scoreless innings, and Akinori Iwamura and Shawn Riggans homered off Ian Kennedy for the AL East-leading Rays. The Yankees have lost six of nine and got another a poor pitching performance from Kennedy (0-3), who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre for his sixth start of the season. Royals 8, Tigers 4 At Kansas City, Mo., Jose Guillen homered and drove in three runs, Gil Meche pitched seven solid innings and the Royals completed another three-game sweep of the Tigers. Kansas City won its season-best fourth straight and improved to 6-0 this season against Detroit, which has lost four straight and 10 of 12 while falling into last in the Central. Indians 4, Athletics 2 At Cleveland, an unearned run charged to Aaron Laffey -- caused by his own throwing error -- ended the scoreless streak by Indians starters at 44 1-3 innings but didn't interrupt their string of dominant outings. Laffey (2-2) allowed just the unearned run and five hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one while filling in for injured starter Jake Westbrook. Laffey lowered his ERA to 1.35 and has gone seven innings in each of his last three starts without giving up an earned run. Blue Jays 3, Twins 2, 11 innings At Minneapolis, pinch-hitter Joe Inglett singled home the go-ahead run with two outs in the 11th to help Toronto complete a three-game sweep. B.J. Ryan earned his seventh save. White Sox 4, Angels 3 At Anaheim, Calif., Jim Thome hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning to spoil Jon Garland's first start against his former team. Octavio Dotel (2-2) pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings for the win and Bobby Jenks got three outs for his eighth save in 10 attempts.
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