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Webb pitches Diamondbacks past Dodgers

Aug 1, 2008 - 5:49 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Brandon Webb pitched eight strong innings and continued his dominance of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Arizona Diamondbacks posted a 2-1 victory on Thursday night.

Mark Reynolds and Chris Snyder each drove in a run during the seventh inning and Stephen Drew added three hits for the Diamondbacks (56-52), who moved two games ahead of the Dodgers (54-54) for first place in the National League West Division.

The Dodgers, who acquired Manny Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox for a pair of minor leaguers just prior to the trade deadline earlier in the day, could have used the slugger against Webb (15-4).

"Webb is tough," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "There is a reason he's been good year-in and year-out, and (Thursday) you saw vintage."

The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and six hits while walking one and striking out six in outdueling Dodgers righthander Derek Lowe. Webb improved to 8-0 in his last nine outings against Los Angeles.

"We play these guys so often I've got a pretty good feel of how to pitch them and get them out," Webb said. "I feel pretty comfortable against these guys.

"I've been pretty much able to keep them off the board for a few games. This is a great pitcher's park and I enjoy pitching here, so that helps out a lot."

Lowe was sharp through six innings, but hit a speed bump in the seventh. He allowed a leadoff double to Conor Jackson and the Diamondbacks took advantage. Following a groundout, Reynolds belted a double down the right field line that plated Jackson and scored two pitches later on Snyder's single past second base, giving Arizona a 2-1 lead.

"All I was trying to do was hit a fly ball and I was lucky enough to get a double," Reynolds said.

Lowe (8-9) surrendered two runs and seven hits, striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings. The righthander has now received just nine total runs of support in his nine losses.

"You almost feel like you have to pitch a perfect game, in the sense of making no mistakes," said Lowe of toeing the rubber opposite Webb.

The Dodgers failed to capitalize on a chance to tie the game in the eighth.

Andre Ethier and Mark Sweeney opened the frame with back-to-back singles. After Juan Pierre bunted the runners to second and third, Matt Kemp lifted a fly ball to the left fielder Jackson, who threw Ethier out at the plate to end the frame and preserve the lead.

"We had our opportunities, we just couldn't cash in," Torre said.

Closer Brandon Lyon put the tying run on base in the ninth, but got Andruw Jones to fly out to earn his career-high 23rd save.

Russell Martin gave the Dodgers their only lead in the sixth when his broken-bat groundout allowed Pierre to score.