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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 4, 2008

Diamondbacks' Webb beats Mets for 7th win

Photo gallery: Major League Baseball

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Arizona's Brandon Webb gave up a season-high four runs in six innings, but got enough offense from his teammates to beat the New York Mets for his seventh victory of the season.

PAUL CONNORS | Associated Press

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks figure they're going to win every time Brandon Webb pitches.

They didn't expect Augie Ojeda to help make him the majors' first seven-game winner.

Ojeda drove in a career-high six runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 10-4 victory over the New York Mets yesterday.

"Six RBIs — that's incredible for anybody," said Webb (7-0), who matched Randy Johnson in 2000 for the fastest start by a Diamondbacks pitcher. "He was the difference today."

Starting in place of injured second baseman Orlando Hudson, Ojeda entered with two RBIs. He hit a two-run single in the second, a two-run double in the fifth and a two-run double in the eighth. The last hit fueled a five-run burst that blew the game open against Duaner Sanchez.

The 33-year-old Ojeda, generously listed at 5-foot-9, has grown accustomed to a reserve role. He's played in 247 games since breaking in with the Chicago Cubs in 2000.

He said it's difficult to maintain his stroke during long spells on the bench.

"It's the toughest thing in baseball, I think," Ojeda said. "It's real tough. Your timing's not there. You can hit in the cages, work every day on your swing. But it's not the same as gamelike (conditions), a guy throwing 94-95 (miles per hour)."

Ojeda's big day overshadowed another solid performance by Webb.

On the day he was selected NL pitcher of the month for April, Webb went six innings, allowing a season-high four runs. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out three.

Webb was sailing along with a 5-1 lead when Ryan Church singled and Carlos Beltran walked in the sixth. With two out, Carlos Delgado hit a 1-1 fastball deep into the right-field seats to cut Arizona's lead to 5-4.

Webb said he lacked his best stuff, but it was enough to keep the Mets in check. New York put five runners on in the first three innings but managed to push only one across.

"He's one of the best pitchers in baseball, and you've got to try and jump on him when you can," New York manager Willie Randolph said. "We had some opportunities early and let them slip away, and when you do that, you have a chance to lose the game."

The Mets don't lose many in downtown Phoenix. They had won 14 of their last 15 in Chase Field, dating to May 2004.

Cubs 9, Cardinals 3: Ted Lilly (2-4) allowed three runs and six hits in seven solid innings, recorded his 1,000th career strikeout and added his second career extra-base hit, and Mike Fontenot hit a three-run homer to lead visiting Chicago over St. Louis.

Astros 6, Brewers 2: Pitcher Brandon Backe and Michael Bourn hit back-to-back home runs in a five-run fifth inning, and Backe (2-3) gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings to lead host Houston, which hit three straight homers in Friday's series opener, past Milwaukee.

Braves 9, Reds 1: Jo-Jo Reyes (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Richmond to start in place of the injured John Smoltz, gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings, and host Atlanta broke open a close game with a six-run seventh inning, sparked by Brian McCann's two-run double, to roll past Cincinnati.

Giants 3, Phillies 2: Bengie Molina singled home Randy Winn from second base for the go-ahead run with one out in the top of the 10th inning as San Francisco overcame Chase Utley's major league-leading 13th homer and Geoff Jenkins' solo shot to beat Philadelphia.

Nationals 9, Pirates 8: Cristian Guzman went 4 for 5 and tied a career high with six RBIs, including a tiebreaking three-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead Washington past Pittsburgh for its fifth win in six games.

Padres 7, Marlins 2: Jake Peavy (4-1) allowed two runs, five hits and struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings to win for the first time in more than three weeks, Tadahito Iguchi hit a two-run double for a 3-2 lead in the second, and Adrian Gonzalez homered in the ninth to help visiting San Diego beat Florida.

Dodgers 12, Rockies 7: James Loney homered and drove in six runs, Hong-Chih Kuo (1-1) got the win in relief of Esteban Loaiza, allowing one run and striking out five in 3 2/3 innings, and visiting Los Angeles extend its winning streak to eight, while handing Colorado its third straight loss.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

YANKEES 6, MARINERS 1: Johnny Damon homered and doubled twice and Mike Mussina (4-3) allowed a run and six hits over six innings to win his third straight start and 254th of his career to move into a tie for 39th place on the all-time list as host New York made it two straight over Seattle.

Twins 4, Tigers 1: Craig Monroe hit a two-run homer off Justin Verlander (1-5) and Brian Bass (1-1) allowed three hits in four scoreless innings for his first major league win in relief of injured starter Scott Baker, leading host Minnesota over Detroit.

Royals 4, Indians 2: Billy Butler's tiebreaking single keyed a four-run top of the seventh as Kansas City rallied to beat Cleveland and C.C. Sabathia (1-5), who took a shutout into the seventh before the Royals strung together six hits against the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner and three relievers.

Red Sox 12, Rays 4: Manny Ramirez singled in two runs in the first inning to end his longest RBI drought — 11 games — and also threw out a runner at the plate, in support of Josh Beckett (3-2), who allowed four runs and seven hits over eight innings as host Boston beat Tampa Bay.

Angels 3, Orioles 1: Jon Garland (4-3) pitched three-hit ball for eight innings, allowing one run and retiring 18 of his last 19 batters, and Gary Matthews Jr. drove in two runs as host Los Angeles, with slumping slugger Vladimir Guerrero on the bench, beat Baltimore.

Blue Jays 5, White Sox 2: Vernon Wells drove in three runs, Marco Scutaro homered and Jesse Litsch (4-1) gave up two runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings to lead host Toronto over Detroit for its third straight victory after losing eight of its last nine.

Rangers 6, Athletics 3: A.J. Murray (1-0) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings a day after being called up from the minors, David Murphy hit a three-run homer and Chris Shelton added a solo shot to lead visiting Texas past Oakland for its fourth straight victory.