Webb’s scoreless streak now 42 innings

ATLANTA -- Brandon Webb pitched his third consecutive shutout and stretched his scoreless streak to 42 innings, throwing a two-hitter to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Atlanta Braves, 4-0, on Friday night.

Webb became the first pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988 to go at least 40 innings without giving up a run and only the 21st pitcher in baseball history to accomplish the feat.

Webb started his streak nearly a month ago. He didn’t yield a run in the final inning of his July 20 start against the Chicago Cubs, a 6-2 loss. He has won five in a row since then, going seven innings apiece in wins over Florida and San Diego before beginning his stretch of shutouts with a 3-0 victory over the Dodgers.

Nineteen years ago, Hershiser was with the Dodgers when he set the record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings. Webb, last year’s NL Cy Young winner, is now tied with Rube Foster for the 12th-longest streak in baseball history.

Since 1940, only Don Drysdale (58), Bob Gibson (47) and Sal Maglie (45) have longer scoreless innings streaks.

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RESULTS

at Chicago 2, St. Louis 1: Jacque Jones hit a two-run homer and made an outstanding catch to help the Cubs end the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak. In the fifth inning, Jones helped keep the game scoreless when he ran full speed toward the center-field wall and made an over-the-shoulder grab on Brendan Ryan’s long drive as he hit the ivy-covered bricks. In the bottom of the sixth, Ryan Theriot singled and Jones hit his fifth homer.

San Francisco 3, at Florida 0: Barry Zito yielded one hit in seven innings, a double by Cody Ross in the fifth inning. It was the Marlins’ only hit before Alejandro De Aza singled to lead off the ninth.

New York 6, at Washington 2: Tom Glavine beat the former Montreal Expos for the 33rd time, including the sixth time since the franchise moved to the nation’s capital in 2005. He is 4-1 with a 2.09 earned-run average in six starts at RFK Stadium.

Philadelphia 11, at Pittsburgh 8: Pat Burrell’s two-run homer capped a four-run sixth inning and gave the Phillies a 9-3 lead.

Cincinnati 8, at Milwaukee 3: The Brewers (62-60) lost their season-high fifth in a row at home, falling into second place in the Central Division, half a game behind the Cubs (62-59).

Houston 3, at San Diego 1: Lance Berkman hit two home runs, his first multi-homer game of the season.

Arizona 4, at Atlanta 0: Brandon Webb pitched his third consecutive shutout.

at Dodgers 6, Colorado 4: Eric Stults yielded two hits over seven innings and retired his last 13 batters.

From the Associated Press