Another season, another streak for Webb

FORMER UK PITCHER OFF TO BEST START IN MAJORS SINCE 1985

By Andrew Bagnato

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX --

Brandon Webb is off on another streak.

Last year, he threw 42 straight scoreless innings. Now Arizona's ace has won his first nine starts.

It's a remarkable feat. But it's really no big deal to the laid-back Kentuckian.

"I haven't done anything that I think's unbelievable," said Webb, who extended his string with an 8-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.

"Now if I was going out there throwing nine innings at a time and not having any help, and feeling like I'm totally dominating each team, then I'd be like, 'Man, this is pretty good.' But I've had a lot of help with the bullpen and scoring runs, and that just helps you all the way around."

The Diamondbacks entered Friday 26-15, the best record in the majors. How important is Webb to their success? Well, the rest of their pitching staff is 17-15.

Webb has turned into a sinkerballing version of Randy Johnson -- a pitcher who is as reliable as a sunrise over the Superstition Mountains. Johnson had the previous best start for an Arizona pitcher, winning his first seven starts in 2000. Now 44, Johnson is returning from back surgery and sometimes struggles to get through five innings.

Webb, meanwhile, has inherited the Big Unit's mantle as the most dominant Diamondback.

"What Brandon continues to do is pretty phenomenal, yet you get spoiled watching it here year to year, watching him just get better and better," Arizona Manager Bob Melvin said.

At 9-0, Webb has a 2.56 ERA and has allowed only 46 hits in 631/3 innings. He has a team-high 49 strikeouts and 17 walks, and he's only yielded two home runs.

"Every year he does something to try to get better," Melvin said. "His curveball, I don't think, gets as much credit as his change-up does right now. His change-up's good, but so is his curveball. And before, when he first broke into the big leagues, it was sinker, sinker, sinker."

Webb's streak of winning his first nine starts is the longest in the majors since San Diego's Andy Hawkins won his first 10 in 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Webb has won 11 straight starts dating to last September.

Every victory would seem to raise Webb's value. But there's a downside to his winning streak.

Although he's cordial with interviewers, Webb doesn't seek the spotlight. This week, he often found a scrum of reporters waiting at his locker stall, each wanting to know the secret behind his streak.

At one point, Webb told catcher Chris Snyder he was getting tired of the fuss.

"He's like, 'Man, it's like it was in the scoreless-inning stretch. Everybody's making a big deal about it,' " Snyder said.

Snyder advised his star pitcher to enjoy the attention while it lasts.

"I told him it's going to happen," Snyder said. "You've got to expect it. You're doing something that very few people have accomplished.

"I was joking around with him," Snyder said. "I said, as soon as you lose your first one, it's going to be over and done with. You don't have to worry about it and you're still going to be 9-1, 10-1, whenever it happens. It's still a good start."