Diamondbacks win second straight
PITTSBURGH -- In their search for a team even colder than they were, the Arizona Diamondbacks had to travel all the way to the Eastern Time zone.
Losing five in a row entering the series, the D-Backs won their second consecutive game against the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2, Wednesday night at PNC Park.
"We just need to keep this thing rolling," rookie outfielder Andy Green said. "Get back in the race, keep wining ballgames."
The win came courtesy of a strong performance by a starting pitcher for the second consecutive night. This time it was Brandon Webb, who allowed only two runs on seven hits in his seven innings of work, walking one and striking out four.
"That sets the tone for everything," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "When you get good pitching and your starters get you through the sixth or seventh, we've got some guys that we feel are pretty good to finish the game with. [Buddy] Groom, [Jose] Valverde ... When our starters go deep into a game, we feel good about getting the win."
Curiously, Webb (12-11) said nothing was working for him in the pregame bullpen session. That was in stark contrast to immediately before his previous outing, Friday against the San Francisco Giants. That evening, Webb felt good about his bullpen but was torched for six runs. So when he was not feeling comfortable on Wednesday, he knew better than to panic.
"I was not on at all mechanically, not very sound," Webb said. "I was saying [before the game], 'This is the day I will probably go out and throw a no-hitter.' The last time in the bullpen, my stuff was some of my better stuff."
He might not have had his best stuff -- in addition to the seven hits, the sinkerballer allowed four flyball outs and a towering home run to Daryle Ward -- but Webb was good enough against the Pirates team that has lost six in a row, 11 of 12 and 16 of 20. Pittsburgh lost its 10th consecutive game at PNC Park and managed only the Ward homer in the sixth -- a ball that traveled over the elevated right-field seats and bounced into the Allegheny River -- and a Jack Wilson double that scored Nate McLouth in the third.
"I left [the ball to Ward] out over the middle of the plate," said Webb. "He hammered the thing. It was well-struck. But it was only one mistake and a solo home run, which is not going to beat you, usually."
Offensively for the Diamondbacks, Craig Counsell and Shawn Green each had two hits and Troy Glaus was on base three times. Andy Green scored two runs and drove in another. Recalled from Triple-A Tucson last weekend, Andy's first hit of the season came with two outs in the second, when his double scored Shawn.
"You hate to look up on any scoreboard and see .000 as your batting average," Green said. "So it was nice to get that first hit and felt good to contribute to the second win in a row."
Andy scored two batters later on a single by Webb, only his fourth hit of the season.
In the third, Shawn made it 3-0 -- and in the process ended the evening early for Pirates starter Mark Redman (5-15) -- when he singled to drive in Conor Jackson.
The Diamondbacks got an unearned run in the sixth to extend their lead to 4-1. With one out, Andy walked and Chris Snyder reached on an error. Webb's sacrifice moved them up a base each and Craig Counsell reached on an infield single that dribbled just past pitcher Brian Meadows. Andy scored on the play, but Snyder got caught in a rundown and was retired.
Webb got out of jams in the fifth and seventh innings with no damage done.
"I made my pitches when I had to, and that's what counts," Webb said. "There were a couple times when I made some good pitches and the guys made some good plays behind me to get me out of it."
The bullpen took over where Webb left off, with Tim Worrell and Jose Valverde each allowing only one baserunner in their respective innings of work. Valverde picked up his sixth save.
"The starters have been starting well, going into games six or seven innings," Webb said. "And then the bullpen is coming in and closing it out. That's what we need."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
Losing five in a row entering the series, the D-Backs won their second consecutive game against the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2, Wednesday night at PNC Park.
"We just need to keep this thing rolling," rookie outfielder Andy Green said. "Get back in the race, keep wining ballgames."
The win came courtesy of a strong performance by a starting pitcher for the second consecutive night. This time it was Brandon Webb, who allowed only two runs on seven hits in his seven innings of work, walking one and striking out four.
"That sets the tone for everything," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "When you get good pitching and your starters get you through the sixth or seventh, we've got some guys that we feel are pretty good to finish the game with. [Buddy] Groom, [Jose] Valverde ... When our starters go deep into a game, we feel good about getting the win."
Curiously, Webb (12-11) said nothing was working for him in the pregame bullpen session. That was in stark contrast to immediately before his previous outing, Friday against the San Francisco Giants. That evening, Webb felt good about his bullpen but was torched for six runs. So when he was not feeling comfortable on Wednesday, he knew better than to panic.
"I was not on at all mechanically, not very sound," Webb said. "I was saying [before the game], 'This is the day I will probably go out and throw a no-hitter.' The last time in the bullpen, my stuff was some of my better stuff."
He might not have had his best stuff -- in addition to the seven hits, the sinkerballer allowed four flyball outs and a towering home run to Daryle Ward -- but Webb was good enough against the Pirates team that has lost six in a row, 11 of 12 and 16 of 20. Pittsburgh lost its 10th consecutive game at PNC Park and managed only the Ward homer in the sixth -- a ball that traveled over the elevated right-field seats and bounced into the Allegheny River -- and a Jack Wilson double that scored Nate McLouth in the third.
"I left [the ball to Ward] out over the middle of the plate," said Webb. "He hammered the thing. It was well-struck. But it was only one mistake and a solo home run, which is not going to beat you, usually."
Offensively for the Diamondbacks, Craig Counsell and Shawn Green each had two hits and Troy Glaus was on base three times. Andy Green scored two runs and drove in another. Recalled from Triple-A Tucson last weekend, Andy's first hit of the season came with two outs in the second, when his double scored Shawn.
"You hate to look up on any scoreboard and see .000 as your batting average," Green said. "So it was nice to get that first hit and felt good to contribute to the second win in a row."
Andy scored two batters later on a single by Webb, only his fourth hit of the season.
In the third, Shawn made it 3-0 -- and in the process ended the evening early for Pirates starter Mark Redman (5-15) -- when he singled to drive in Conor Jackson.
The Diamondbacks got an unearned run in the sixth to extend their lead to 4-1. With one out, Andy walked and Chris Snyder reached on an error. Webb's sacrifice moved them up a base each and Craig Counsell reached on an infield single that dribbled just past pitcher Brian Meadows. Andy scored on the play, but Snyder got caught in a rundown and was retired.
Webb got out of jams in the fifth and seventh innings with no damage done.
"I made my pitches when I had to, and that's what counts," Webb said. "There were a couple times when I made some good pitches and the guys made some good plays behind me to get me out of it."
The bullpen took over where Webb left off, with Tim Worrell and Jose Valverde each allowing only one baserunner in their respective innings of work. Valverde picked up his sixth save.
"The starters have been starting well, going into games six or seven innings," Webb said. "And then the bullpen is coming in and closing it out. That's what we need."
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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