Roy Oswalt found his fastball – and his winning form. Brandon Webb has been unbeatable since the season started.
Snapping out of an early funk, Oswalt pitched seven strong innings and the Houston Astros got a tiebreaking homer from Michael Bourn in a 2-1 victory at Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Oswalt (1-3) finally looked like a three-time All-Star instead of the worst pitcher in the National League. The right-hander gave up one run and five hits to snap a three-game skid and beat the Phillies for the sixth straight time. He entered the game either first or tied for first in the league in losses, runs and hits allowed.
“Hopefully, I turned it around,” Oswalt said. “I felt better. I wasn’t overthrowing. I feel when I have my curveball, I should be able to get to the eighth or ninth inning.”
Webb has won his first four starts for the first time after tossing another gem in Arizona’s 4-1 victory at San Francisco. The right-hander gave up three hits in eight innings and smacked a two-run single, beating Barry Zito (0-4) in a matchup of former Cy Young Award winners who seem headed in different directions.
“It’s a tough day when Webb is on top of his game,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “His hit really hurt us, too. Webb did it all.”
In other NL games, it was: Florida 6, Atlanta 5; New York 5, Washington 2; Chicago 12, Cincinnati 3; St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 4; Colorado 10, San Diego 2; and Los Angeles 8, Pittsburgh 1.
Webb, the 2006 NL Cy Young winner, won his sixth straight decision since last September. The sinkerballer struck out the side in the first inning, throwing 10 of his 11 pitches for strikes. He got through both the fifth and sixth innings on only five pitches each time, and wound up with five strikeouts.
Brandon Lyon finished for his third save in five chances for the Diamondbacks (11-4).
“With 62 pitches through six innings, I felt I was going to finish this thing, but I kind of got out of sync,” Webb said. “A couple really quick innings, I was able to make pitches when they were swinging early.”
Zito, the Giants’ $126 million left-hander who went a career-worst 11-13 last year, allowed three earned runs, five hits and five walks in six innings. He has lost his opening four starts for the first time.
“I know I have good stuff in me and it will serve us eventually,” Zito said. “Stick with my approach, keep going out there with my head up. You can’t get down. Baseball is fun, even though it doesn’t seem fun sometimes.”
At Philadelphia, Bourn connected off Kyle Kendrick (1-2) in the fifth to help beat his former teammates a night after the Phillies scored four runs off closer Jose Valverde to win in the bottom of the ninth.
Doug Brocail pitched the ninth for his first save since earning one with Texas in 2005.
Valverde had a bullpen session before the game, so manager Cecil Cooper held him out until the next save situation.
“He’s our closer no question about it,” Cooper said.
The Phillies sorely missed 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins, who was out of the starting lineup for the seventh straight game because of a sprained left ankle. Rollins won’t return until Saturday at the earliest because he’s heading to Oakland, Calif., to attend a funeral for an uncle.
Oswalt is 6-1 lifetime against the Phillies and hasn’t lost to them since May 9, 2003.
“He was vintage Roy,” Cooper said. “He kept the ball down, had a nice breaking ball and his fastball was crisp. He pitched real well.”
Cubs 12, Reds 3
At Chicago, Derrek Lee hit his sixth home run, and Carlos Zambrano (2-1) pitched seven solid innings while helping himself with three hits. The Cubs scored four runs in the first and six in the third to give Zambrano an early cushion on another windy night at Wrigley Field. Chicago didn’t miss leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf.
Rockies 10, Padres 2
At San Diego, Garrett Atkins went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and Colorado scored seven runs in the ninth inning. Troy Tulowitzki snapped an 0-for-20 slump with a two-run double. Mark Redman (2-1) allowed two runs and three hits in five innings.
Dodgers 8, Pirates 1
At Los Angeles, Rafael Furcal went 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, and James Loney extended his season-opening hitting streak to 15 games. Brad Penny (2-2) allowed an unearned run over 5 2-3 innings to beat Paul Maholm (0-2). Dodgers third baseman Nomar Garciaparra was activated from the disabled list.
Cardinals 5, Brewers 4
At St. Louis, Adam Wainwright (2-1) pitched into the eighth inning and homered, helping the Cardinals run their home winning streak to seven. Albert Pujols contributed with his bat and glove. He hit an early two-run double, then made a leaping catch at first base in the ninth to prevent Milwaukee from tying it. Jason Isringhausen held on for his sixth save.
Marlins 6, Braves 5
At Miami, Mike Jacobs hit his sixth homer and pinch-hitter Luis Gonzalez added a two-run shot for surprising Florida (9-5). Tim Hudson (2-1) lasted only three innings for the Braves, who fell to 0-7 in one-run games. Mark Hendrickson (3-1) won his third start in a row.
Mets 5, Nationals 2
At New York, Carlos Beltran hit his first homer of the season, a three-run shot in New York’s four-run fifth inning, to back John Maine (1-1). Jose Reyes also connected for the first time and Ryan Church hit his second home run to hand the anemic Nationals their 11th loss in 12 games.
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