Phillies-Diamondbacks Preview

5/8/2008 1:30 AM

By BRETT HUSTON
STATS Writer

There's no official definition, but the ace of a pitching staff is supposed to give his team a great chance to win every time he takes the mound.

Brandon Webb has taken that a step further for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Webb will look to make it eight wins in as many starts for the Diamondbacks on Thursday when they try to earn a split of a four-game set against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.

Arizona (22-12) has the best record in baseball, and although it's lost three of its last four, sits atop the NL West largely due to the pitching of Webb.

Hot starts are nothing new to Webb (7-0, 2.49 ERA), however. The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner began that season 8-0 through 11 starts and won six games without a loss to kick off 2005.

Webb can break the record for the fastest start by a Diamondback with a win over the Phillies (20-15). Randy Johnson won his first seven starts in 2000 on his way to winning the second of his four straight Cy Young Awards with Arizona.

Webb wasn't at his best in his latest start, allowing four runs in six innings to the New York Mets on Saturday, but the Diamondbacks won 10-4, making him the major leagues' first seven-game winner.

The right-hander has long been known for his sinker, his signature pitch, but Arizona manager Bob Melvin has seen his ace rely on a second pitch to help him get some big outs this season.

"There are very few guys that I can think of starters or relievers that have better changeups than Webby does," Melvin told the team's official Web site.

Webb didn't face the Phillies last season, but is 2-3 with a 3.99 ERA in eight career starts against them.

Arizona has had trouble hitting in the clutch in losing three of its last four games. The Diamondbacks were batting .294 with runners in scoring position in their first 30 games, but that average has dropped to .220 over their last four.

They were 2-for-12 in that situation on Wednesday, blowing a 3-1 lead in their 5-4 loss to the Phillies.

Philadelphia has been on a roll lately since a disappointing 8-10 start. The Phillies have gone 12-5 since despite not having 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins in the lineup as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.

Rollins has looked good in some minor league rehab appearances, and could be back in the lineup this weekend when Philadelphia heads to San Francisco.

Chase Utley, who leads the majors with 13 homers, has made sure the Phillies haven't missed Rollins too much. He recorded his 27th RBI with a single in the eighth inning on Wednesday that capped the comeback.

"That's staying after 'em. That's what I talk about," manager Charlie Manuel said. "As long as our pitching and defense keeps us in the game, somewhere along the line we'll put some runs on you."

Philadelphia's starting pitching has been merely average this season - the rotation is 9-10 with a 4.44 ERA that ranks in the middle of the pack in the majors.

Brett Myers (2-2, 4.70) has numbers that fall in line with the rest of the rotation, but he's coming off a very impressive performance on Saturday. Myers went seven innings, allowing two runs while striking out 10 in Philadelphia's 3-2, 10-inning loss to San Francisco.

"That was the best I saw his fastball," Manuel said. "That's a good sign. I saw 92, 93 and that was encouraging."

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five appearances against Arizona, including four starts.