Webb moves onto another record-setting mission
by Sports Xchange
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"It's pretty amazing," Webb said of his current run. "Things are just happening. Almost every time I've been out there, they've gotten me a lead."
The others who have won their first nine starts since 1920 are Andy Hawkins, San Diego, 1985; Sal Maglie, New York Giants, 1952; Atley Donald, New York Yankees, 1939; and George Uhle, Detroit, 1929. Ed Cicotte won his first 12 with the 1919 Chicago White Sox, the infamous Black Sox.
Webb has won his last 11 regular-season starts, including two last September, and his last 13 decisions, over 14 starts, since Sept. 7, 2007.
He is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA against Colorado this season after going 1-3 with a 5.77 ERA against the Rockies in six starts last year, although his one victory clinched the NL West title Sept. 28.
Webb struck out a season-high eight Thursday, seven third strikes coming on a changeup, which he has developed into a strong complement to the sinking fastball that he once relied upon almost exclusively.
"The great ones find a way to stay ahead of the curve," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "Webb has taken it upon himself to get his changeup to throw at any position in the count, and his curveball is a go-to pitch, also.
"Regardless of the dynamic late life that his fastball has, he has a couple of other options to challenge you with, which puts him in a very comfortable position from a pitching standpoint. A hitter doesn't know what to expect. Whatever he throws is going to go down, and that's about it."
Werth makes rare call
Jayson Werth had seen other hitters summoned from the dugout to give a curtain call to fans after hitting a big home run, but he'd never been asked to do it himself.
On Friday night, he gave two. Werth also gave a performance for the ages, tying a Phillies record with eight RBI and becoming the 18th player in club history to hit three home runs in a game, in a 10-3 rout of the Blue Jays. He became only the fifth Phillies player to knock in eight runs, joining Kitty Bransfield (July 11, 1910), Gavvy Cravath (Aug. 8, 1915), Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones (Aug. 20, 1958) and Mike Schmidt (April 17, 1976).
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| Jayson Werth's big night led to a curtain call. (H. Rumph Jr. / Associated Press) |
"After the second one, I came in and looked at the video, and they put up a graphic," said Werth, a former Blue Jays prospect. "I rewound it and paused it and looked at it and said, 'Man, I have a chance to do something special.'"
Werth smashed his first two home runs to the opposite field against Jays rookie lefty David Purcey, who was sent to the minors after the game. The first, a three-run shot in the second inning, landed in the right-field bleachers. The second, Werth's first career grand slam, dented an advertisement on the facade below the second deck and opened an 8-2 lead in the third inning.
By the fifth, Purcey had been replaced by right-hander Jesse Litsch. No matter. Werth hit a solo shot into the left-field seats and became the first Phillies player since Ryan Howard on Sept. 3, 2006 to homer three times in a game.
"I've never had a curtain call," Werth said. "You see guys get them and they're cool. It was a special moment. I won't forget this night."
Bedard seeking confidence boost
The Mariners want to get their highly prized acquisition back on track Saturday.
Left-handed starter Erik Bedard is scheduled to start against San Diego. It would be the perfect opportunity for the ex-Baltimore Oriole to right the ship.
Bedard has fashioned a 2-2 record and 3.48 in his first six starts for the Mariners since coming to the team in a five-player swap. Seattle had to send Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Kam Mickolio and Tony Butler to Baltimore.
In his last three starts, however, Bedard has gone 0-2 with a 5.06 earned run average. In those three starts, two of those against AL West division Texas, he has given up 17 hits in 16 innings with four walks and 13 strikeouts.
Bedard made a nice first impression for his new team, winning at Tampa Bay April 4. He did not make his next start until April 26, throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings against division rival Oakland in gaining his second victory of the season.
Bedard has made only six starts for the Mariners. He sat out three weeks with inflammation in his left hip. He has faced the Padres only once in his career. He beat them June 21 of last season in San Diego, giving up two runs on five hits over six innings, walking none and striking out nine.
Closing for Tribe is family affair
The Indians began interleague play with a 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, Cleveland's first game under a new closer-by-committee arrangement announced by manager Eric Wedge.
With Rafael Betancourt having struggled in the role of interim closer for the injured Joe Borowski, Wedge said before Friday's game that the Indians will not have a designated closer for the time being.
Wedge said Betancourt, Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez and Masa Kobayashi will share the closer role. Wedge said he will decide who the closer is on a given night based on matchups and availability.
Wedge said he is reluctant to anoint any of the four pitchers the closer because he expects Borowski to come off the disabled list in the coming days.
Borowski has been on the disabled list since April 15 with a strained right triceps. He pitched a simulated game Friday and will make a minor league rehab appearance on Monday.
It's possible Borowski could be activated sometime late next week. Wedge said when Borowski is activated, he will go back into the closer role.
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