Webb impressive as Diamondbacks handle depleted Mets

Diamondbacks 5, Mets 1

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Mets will be interested to learn that Arizona's Brandon Webb didn't really feel that great Friday night.

The Cy Young Award winner allowed just four hits over eight innings in a 5-1 Diamondbacks victory, dominating a makeshift Mets lineup with an assortment of sliders, sinkers, curves, changeups and a fastball that barely touched 90 mph. He struck out eight and walked one.

"It looks good," Webb said. "But with the day off [Thursday] and no chance to throw, my arm didn't feel that good. It never felt good the whole game. It was one of those days. You kind of battle through it.

"I was able to throw pitches where I wanted them. There were a lot of curves and first-pitch strikes. It worked out well."

Throwing against a lineup packed with subs replacing injured regulars, Webb led the Diamondbacks to their eighth straight victory, their longest winning streak since 2003. Before Friday, Arizona had lost 15 of its last 18 games against the Mets and Webb was 1-6 lifetime against New York.

But Webb (5-3) has always pitched well at Shea Stadium, where he has an 0.31 ERA in four career starts.

"The humidity here always helps the sinker and the curve, gives them a little more bite," he said. "It's a great pitcher's park with a deep outfield and thick grass."

Webb got all the runs he needed on a pair of home runs. Chris Snyder hit a two-run drive off John Maine (6-3) in the fifth and Stephen Drew tagged reliever Guillermo Mota for a three-run homer in the eighth.

The Mets' only run came on a two-out pinch single by Ruben Gotay in the eighth. Brandon Lyon pitched the ninth for Arizona.

"I probably would have finished if the shutout was still in effect," Webb said. "It worked out well, though."

"That's what we've seen quite often," manager Bob Melvin said of Webb. "He had a great sinker, change and curve. When he gets on a roll like that, he's a tough guy to deal with."

The Mets were impressed.

"He was pretty tough," manager Willie Randolph said. "I give him credit for making some pitches. You've got to be patient with him, but he's always throwing strike one."

Webb took advantage of the Mets, whose starting lineup looked like something out of a spring training game. Regular third baseman David Wright (back spasms) and center fielder Carlos Beltran (bruised knee) joined disabled list outfielders Shawn Green (broken foot) and Moises Alou (strained quad) on the sidelines.

That forced New York to start subs Julio Franco, David Newhan and Ben Johnson, along with fill-ins Endy Chavez and Damion Easley, who have been pressed into regular duty because of other injuries. They were easy pickings for Webb.

Jose Reyes' two-out single in the third was the Mets' first hit, but he was thrown out trying to steal by Snyder when Arizona pitched out. In the sixth, Reyes beat out a bunt with two out for New York's second hit and then stole his 30th base of the season. But Webb struck out Chavez, ending the inning.

The Mets scored in the eighth when Newhan singled, reached second on a throwing error by third baseman Mark Reynolds and scored on a single by Gotay.

Maine pitched around a leadoff single to Eric Byrnes in the first and a leadoff double by Conor Jackson in the fourth, stranding both runners.

In the fifth, Carlos Quentin hit a one-out double and Snyder followed with his fourth home run of the season on a 1-2 pitch from Maine.

There were two out in the eighth when Orlando Hudson and Reynolds singled against Mota and Drew followed with his second home run of the season.

Game notes
Franco, at 48 the oldest player in the majors, stole his second base of the season in the second inning. ... Maine threw 103 pitches in six innings, allowing five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.