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Webb, Diamondbacks look to salvage three-game set with Braves

Aug 10, 2008 - 7:06 AM Atlanta (55-62) at Arizona (59-58), 4:10 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The spiraling Arizona Diamondbacks have begun to suffocate while barely holding onto first place in the National League West . It's up to their former Cy Young award-winner to give them some breathing room.

Remaining a half-game ahead in the division, the Diamondbacks will count on Brandon Webb to pitch past the Atlanta Braves on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep and halt their losing streak.

Webb (16-4, 2.93 ERA) looks to help Arizona bounce back from four straight losses. His team has been in first place since April 5 and could've dropped to second if the Los Angeles Dodgers (58-58) didn't falter on Saturday.

The 29-year-old ace has won five straight decisions and had held opponents to two runs or less in six of his last seven outings.

The Diamondbacks may have suffered a double loss on Saturday, dropping the game and seeing second baseman Orlando Hudson injured and possibly lost for the season.

After Brian McCann laced an RBI single to shallow center field in the sixth, the throw to the plate was cut off by Arizona pitcher Juan Cruz, who threw to second base hoping to get the advancing runner. However, his throw went awry, and as Hudson reached for the ball, his wrist collided with a sliding McCann.

Hudson dislocated his left wrist and may face season-ending surgery.

Mike Hampton (1-0, 6.75) will take the mound for Atlanta after notching his first victory in over three years on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. In seven innings, the 35-year-old held the opposition to two runs and four hits en route to an 11-4 triumph.

That was his third start after returning on July 26 following a near three-year absence in which the two-time All-Star underwent two major surgeries on his left elbow. This season, he was sidelined by both a strained chest muscle and an injured groin.

Prior to that, though, the oft-injured lefthander was tagged for 10 runs and 15 hits in nine rocky innings, spanning over two starts.