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Webb's scoreless streak ends, but Diamondbacks still edge Brewers

Aug 23, 2007 - 5:41 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers may have put an end to Brandon Webb's scoreless streak, but they could not stop his dominance.

Webb pitched seven stellar innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks snapped a three-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series.

Prince Fielder's RBI single with one out in the first inning ended Webb's 42-inning scoreless streak and gave the Brewers a 1-0 advantage.

"To be honest with you, with the attention it was getting, when it happened in the first inning I was pretty relieved," Webb said. "It was good streak when it was happening, amazing to me, but then I felt (I had to) go out there and get a win."

The Diamondbacks ace hurled his third straight shutout on Friday and stretched his scoreless streak to 42 innings, tossing a two-hitter in a 4-0 triumph over the Atlanta Braves.

Webb (14-8) became the first pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988 to go at least 40 innings without giving up a run and just the 21st pitcher in baseball history to reach the mark.

"It was a streak that was amazing to me that I was able to do that," Webb said. "The highs and lows that came with it have been fantastic. It has been like a no-hitter. I had great plays behind me that kept it going. The names that have been mentioned, being in that company is unbelievable. To have my name thrown out with those spectacular players has been an honor."

The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, who has won his last six starts, started his streak after not allowing a run in the final inning of his July 20 start against the Chicago Cubs, a 6-2 loss.

"There are so many easy ways for a run to get on the board, it takes some luck, but also takes a lot of skill," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "His skill level through 42 innings is like nothing I have ever seen before."

The Brewers ended the suspense early when Gabe Gross led off the game with a single to right-center. Gross then stole second and advanced to third on former Diamondback Craig Counsell's groundout, setting the stage for Fielder to deliver a base hit to left.

"Of course everybody knew about his streak, but I was just trying to get the guy in," Fielder said. "I wasn't trying to do too much. You are going to try and turn your game up with a guy like that anyway and he had 42 scoreless, so yeah, of course you are going to try and bear down and get him."

Melvin played the infield in in an attempt to try and prevent the run.

After the run scored, the Diamondbacks fans gave Webb a standing ovation.

The 28-year-old Webb surrendered just two runs and five hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

Arizona took the lead for good in the seventh after Stephen Drew and Chris Snyder hit back-to-back singles off Brewers starter Jeff Suppan (8-11). Former Brewer Jeff Cirillo followed with a hard smash down the first base line.

First baseman Fielder made a diving stop by the foul line and stepped on the bag, but Drew beat the throw home to make it 3-2.

"After I tagged the bag, I knew that I probably didn't have a shot at home because (Drew) is pretty fast," Fielder said. "If it was hit right at me, I would have gone home or at least checked the runner."

"It would have been nice if that ball went down the line, but it is still a win," Cirillo said. "It was a big win for us going into the off-day, and it was a win that was needed."

Brandon Lyon retired the side in order in the eighth and Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth for his major league-leading 38th save this season.

Arizona (72-56) maintained its 3 1/2-game advantage over the San Diego Padres (67-58) in the NL West Division.

The Diamondbacks took a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the first. Chris Young blasted his seventh leadoff homer of the season and Orlando Hudson, who followed with a triple, scored on Tony Clark's sacrifice fly.

The Brewers tied the game at 2-2 when Counsell hit an RBI double to right field in the sixth.

Suppan pitched eight innings, surrendering three runs and seven hits.

"That was a great game," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We felt good going in because we have been swinging the bats well, but we did something we hadn't done all year, and that was hit-and-run in the first. I am real proud the way we came in and played this series against the hottest team in the National League."

Milwaukee (65-62) fell one game behind the first-place Chicago Cubs (65-60) in the NL Central.