Webb Dominates In Arizona’s Win

NEW YORK — Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb dominated a makeshift New York lineup Friday night, limiting the Mets to four hits and pitching Arizona to a 5-1 victory.
It was the eighth straight win for the Diamondbacks, their longest winning streak since 2003. Before Friday, Arizona had lost 15 of its last 18 games against the Mets and Webb was 1-6 lifetime against New York.
Chris Snyder provided all the offense Webb (5-3) needed with a two-run homer off John Maine (6-3) in the fifth inning. Then Stephen Drew added a three-run shot against reliever Guillermo Mota in the eighth.
Webb, who had a career earned run average of 0.43 in three previous starts at Shea Stadium, took advantage of the Mets, whose starting lineup looked like something out of a spring training game. Regular third baseman David Wright (back spasms) and center fielder Carlos Beltran (bruised knee) joined disabled list outfielders Shawn Green (broken foot) and Moises Alou (strained quad) on the sidelines.
Dodgers 5, Pirates 4
PITTSBURGH — Russell Martin homered for the third consecutive game and Los Angeles won with its hitting rather than their pitching for a change, overcoming two Pittsburgh leads.
Despite an off night by starter Randy Wolf (7-3), who won his fourth straight although he allowed four runs over five innings, the Dodgers won for the seventh time in nine games. The Pirates lost their fifth in their last six home games and are 10-17 at PNC Park this season.
Padres 4, Nationals 3, 10 innings
WASHINGTON — Pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard singled home Cristian Guzman in the 10th inning to give Washington a victory over San Diego.
Guzman started the decisive rally with his fourth hit, a one-out single off Cla Meredith (2-3). Ryan Zimmerman’s liner to right sent Guzman to third before Belliard sent a bouncer that second baseman Marcus Giles gloved in short right field but could not make a play on.
Braves 8, Cubs 5
CHICAGO — Pitcher Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett shoved each other and had to be separated in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ loss to Atlanta.
Atlanta had just scored five runs in the top of the fifth to increase their lead to 7-1. Jeff Francoeur’s two-run double made it 4-1 and, with runners on first and second, Barrett allowed a passed ball and threw wildly to third for an error that let Scott Thorman score. Pitcher Kyle Davies (3-3) and Kelly Johnson followed with RBI doubles.
Brewers 8, Marlins 4
MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun, playing his eighth game in the majors, homered, doubled and singled to lead Milwaukee to a victory over Florida.
Kevin Mench drove in four runs for Milwaukee with a sacrifice fly and a double with the bases loaded.
Cardinals 8, Astros 1
HOUSTON — Juan Encarnacion and Gary Bennett hit their first homers of the season on consecutive pitches in St. Louis’ seven-run ninth inning to lift the Cardinals to a victory over struggling Houston.
Encarnacion’s homer, off Chad Qualls (4-3), hit the wall above the yellow line in left field and broke a 1-all tie. Bennett extended the lead with his home run, also to left, on the next pitch. Bennett added a two-run double later in the inning that made it 8-1.