Mr. Automatic was at it again.
Backed by Stephen Drew's career-high four hits, Brandon Webb became the majors' first nine-game winner when the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-5 last night in Phoenix.
Webb has won his first nine starts, the most since the Padres' Andy Hawkins won his first 10 in 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Webb has won 11 straight starts dating to September.
“It's pretty amazing,” Webb said. “It's getting to be amazing. Things are just happening.”
A lot of things happened on a clear, 85-degree night with the roof open in the desert.
Drew had two doubles, a triple, a single and an RBI, and Chris Snyder hit a three-run homer as the Diamondbacks improved to a majors-best 26-15, including 20-5 against the NL West.
Arizona overcame a season-high four errors to complete its second three-game sweep of the Rockies this season. The Diamondbacks are 8-1 against the defending NL champions, with Webb winning three times.
Mixing curveballs and change-ups with his trademark slider, Webb had the Rockies off stride most of the night.
ASTROS 8, GIANTS 7: Lance Berkman splashed his majors-leading 15th home run into McCovey Cove, breaking a ninth-inning tie and helping Houston rally past the Giants. Houston came back from a 6-0 deficit to take three of four from the Giants, its first series win at San Francisco since a three-game sweep in September 2001. Pinch-hitter Darin Erstad hit a tying, three-run homer in the eighth and Carlos Lee also homered in the inning off Tyler Walker, who faltered on his 32nd birthday. Berkman connected off Vinnie Chulk (0-2) for the first splash-hit homer by an Astro. 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. Byrdak hasn't allowed a run in 11 outings.
DODGERS 7, BREWERS 2: Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent and Gary Bennett homered during a six-run seventh inning, leading Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers in Milwaukee. After Jones and Kent hit solo shots, Bennett capped the burst with a three-run homer. Billingsley (3-5) didn't allow a hit until Brewers starter Ben Sheets, a career .078 hitter, singled with two outs in the fifth.
