"It was fun while it lasted."
Those were Brandon Webb's words after his streak of 42 consecutive
scoreless innings came to an end, as the Diamondbacks ace allowed a run
in the first inning of Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the visiting
Milwaukee Brewers.
"To be part of this streak is still amazing to me," Webb said.
The right-hander from Kentucky was chasing Orel Hershiser and the
former Dodgers pitcher's major league-record streak of 59 consecutive
scoreless innings, a mark thought to be unreachable since Hershiser did it
in 1988.
Webb, who posted a 30-inning consecutive scoreless streak a year ago
on his way to his first Cy Young Award, said the pressure had been
mounting on him.
"I was feeling it a little bit today with all the attention it was
getting," he said. "To get it out of the way in the first inning was
really a relief."
Unlike in his recent starts, in which he had a high percentage of
first-pitch strikes, Webb fell behind in the count to each of the first
three batters, including Prince Fielder, who drove a 2-1 pitch into left
field for the first RBI off Webb since July 20 against the Cubs six
starts ago.
In between, he went 31 days without allowing a run. During the
streak, he walked just eight batters. He retired 37 of 42 first-inning
hitters.
But it's over.
"It's amazing to me," Webb said, "that I was able to do it."
DIAMONDBACKS 3, BREWERS 2: Brandon Webb's scoreless-innings streak
ended at 42 Wednesday, but the Diamondbacks ace still won his sixth
consecutive start, allowing two runs over seven innings to help Arizona
avoid a three-game sweep by the visiting Brewers at Chase Field.
The suspense ended early, as Webb allowed a run in the first inning
off an RBI by Prince Fielder, but it will still go down as the
fifth-longest streak since 1940 and the second longest since Orel Hershiser's
major league record streak of 59 innings in 1988.
Webb (14-8) allowed five hits and struck out five with one walk. He
continues to be in the Cy Young Award race again this year with a 2.63
ERA.
"He was cooked after seven," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said.
"I think all things considered, it was a pretty impressive outing
today."
NOTES, QUOTES
--CF Chris Young hit his 26th homer Wednesday, tops among major
league rookies, as he makes his case for National League Rookie of the
Year.
--Arizona's 3-2 win Wednesday improved the team's record in one-run
games to 28-16.
--Manager Bob Melvin, on talking to RHP Brandon Webb after Webb
finally allowed his first run in 43 innings Wednesday against the Brewers:
"It's the first time in a month I've talked to him. I said, 'Way to go,
now move past it, will you?'"
--RHP Jose Valverde recorded his major league-leading 38th save
Wednesday.
--RHP Tony Pena, one of Arizona's setup men for closer Jose
Valverde, acknowledged that his arm has been tired. That may explain his 8.68
ERA in eight August appearances. "I've thrown a lot of innings," he
said. "But I'm good. My arm's tired, but I can keep working. It's normal.
It's a long season."
--3B Mark Reynolds on tying the major league record (for
non-pitchers) by striking out in nine consecutive plate appearances before the
streak ended when he got hit by a pitch Tuesday night against Milwaukee:
"It's obviously not a record you want, but at least I didn't break it."
BY THE NUMBERS: 42 -- Consecutive scoreless-innings streak, a
Diamondbacks record, by right-hander Brandon Webb from July 20-Aug. 17.
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