INSIDE PITCH
Brandon Webb believes it's thrilling enough just to be
selected to the All-Star Game. The thought of actually pitching
in it sounds exciting, too.
Webb got snubbed on the starting assignment; NL manager Phil
Garner went with the Dodgers'
Brad Penny instead.
Webb leads the National League in ERA. He leads in innings
pitched. And his nine wins are the second-most on the NL
All-Star staff.
He likely wouldn't be able to pitch too long in the game
since he went seven innings Saturday. Manager Bob Melvin said
Webb's next start with the Diamondbacks will be Saturday, July
15.
REPLAY: The Diamondbacks had another big inning, got another
big win and now, after playing poor baseball for the better part
of five weeks, will take some positive momentum into the
All-Star break.
They got five runs in the seventh inning Sunday afternoon en
route to an 8-5 win over the Rockies that completed a three-game
weekend sweep.
Jorge Julio pitched a scoreless ninth, giving him a save in
all three games in the series.
NOTES, QUOTES
--SS
Craig Counsell said the time off he got in the middle of
last week went far in helping him get back on track during the
weekend series against Colorado. Counsell went 7-for-11 in three
games after he did not start Wednesday and enjoyed Thursday's
off day. "Sometimes two days away from it can kind of clear your
mind a little bit," he said.
--RHP
Edgar Gonzalez was credited with the win Sunday despite
allowing a run in one inning of relief. He'll take it, though.
The win, which snapped his 11-decision losing streak, was his
first since Sept. 3, 2003.
--Manager Bob Melvin is rumored to be close to receiving a
new two-year contract from the Diamondbacks. Melvin is in the
last guaranteed year of his deal. The Arizona Republic reported
that an announcement is expected to come this week.
--SS
Stephen Drew and OF
Carlos Gonzalez, two Diamondbacks
prospects, participated in the Futures Game on Sunday. Drew went
1-for-3 while Gonzalez was 1-for-4. Drew plays for Triple-A
Tucson, Gonzalez for Class A Lancaster.
--RHP
Luis Vizcaino says he's rediscovered his mechanics,
enabling him to return to throwing his signature sharp-breaking
slider. Vizcaino said that when he opens up early in his
delivery, it causes him to release the ball from the side
instead of over the top. His results are proof enough. He hasn't
allowed a run in his past four appearances after struggling for
the better part of three weeks.
--Manager Bob Melvin announced his rotation for after the
All-Star break: Friday through Sunday against the Brewers it
will be RHP
Miguel Batista, RHP Brandon Webb and RHP
Claudio Vargas, and RHP
Enrique Gonzalez and RHP
Juan Cruz will start
the first two games of the subsequent series against the
Dodgers.
BY THE NUMBERS: 325 -- Number of All-Star votes Brandon Webb
received from players, managers and coaches, making him the
league's leading vote-getter among pitchers. Webb had never
before been selected to the All-Star team.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I swear that is the first time I have ever
seen that." -- Diamondbacks left fielder
Luis Gonzalez, reacting
to the Coors Field stadium crew cleaning the upper deck of the
stadium before the game had ended. The upper deck was largely
vacant after a two-hour, 39-minute rain delay.