Webb sharp again as Diamondbacks cruise by Astros

HOUSTON (AP) -- Arizona's hitters with ties to Houston helped Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks end the Astros' eight-game winning streak.

Webb struck out six in eight sharp innings and Houston natives Chris Snyder and Chris Young and former Astro Chris Burke homered in Arizona's 12-2 victory on Friday night.

Webb (18-4) allowed four hits and retired 16 Astros on groundouts to win his seventh straight decision and fifth straight start against Houston. Webb's 18 wins are the most in the majors.

Arizona manager Bob Melvin said Webb's sinker looked as good as it has all season, but Webb was more modest.

"I don't know if it was my best," Webb said, "but it was pretty good."

Snyder had a two-run homer and four RBIs, Young added a solo shot and Burke tacked on a three-run homer, each celebrating their returns to the city.

"The adrenaline flow is through the roof," Young said. "When you're playing in front of 50 family members and everybody is expecting something, it's kind of like a playoff atmosphere almost."

When Snyder homered in the sixth off Tim Byrdak, Young felt the pressure and hit his own shot one inning later.

"I was kind of envious," Young said. "He [Snyder] told me he had some friends sitting behind home plate watching the game. For some reason, I really wanted to hit a home run."

Ty Wigginton homered and Lance Berkman had an RBI double for the Astros, who also had their seven-game home winning streak halted.

Wandy Rodriguez (7-5) gave up four runs and matched a career high with six walks in 2 1/3 shaky innings. The left-hander had won four of his previous five decisions.

"My control was the problem," said Rodriguez. "I didn't have location. It's very difficult for me if I can't throw the ball where I want to."

Stephen Drew doubled into the left-field corner on Rodriguez's third pitch to stretch his career-high hitting streak to 17 games. Drew advanced to third on Young's flyout before Rodriguez walked Conor Jackson and Adam Dunn to load the bases.

Rodriguez missed outside with a 3-2 pitch to Mark Reynolds and Tony Clark added another run with a single to left. After Rodriguez walked Snyder to make it 3-0, Chris Sampson started throwing in the Astros' bullpen.

Rodriguez struck out Burke and Webb to escape more damage.

Wigginton singled in the Houston first to extend his career-best hitting streak to 12 games. One out later, Berkman doubled to right-center, his 11th RBI in his last seven games. Berkman's 943rd career RBI moved him past Jose Cruz and into third place on the Astros' all-time list.

Rodriguez struck out two batters in the second, then walked two in the third to create more trouble. Snyder drove in a run with a single to right before Sampson relieved.

"So we got through the second and we thought, 'OK, here we go," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. "But we couldn't stop the bleeding."

Sampson got two outs to end the inning, but Drew led off the fourth with a double and scored on Jackson's single. Young drove in another run with a single in the fifth for a 6-1 Arizona lead.

Webb, meanwhile, retired 13 of the next 15 batters he faced after Berkman's RBI double. He walked David Newhan leading off the Houston fifth, but got Humberto Quintero to ground into a double play, then fanned Reggie Abercrombie for his sixth strikeout.

Clark doubled off Byrdak in the sixth before Snyder drove a 3-2 pitch off the facade in left field.

"It feels good, you can't lie, having a night like that in front of family and friends," Snyder said. "Coming home is great. But that's icing on the cake right there."

Wigginton hit a solo homer to left off Webb in the sixth, his third home run in five games. Young answered with a solo shot off Byrdak in the seventh.

Clark and Reynolds had one-out hits in the eighth before Burke hit a three-run homer into the porch in left field, his second home run of the season. Burke played for Houston from 2004-07 and went to Arizona in the trade that brought closer Jose Valverde to the Astros.

Burke, who was hitting just .197, didn't feel any redemption as he rounded the bases. But he kept his home-run ball after the fans who used to root for him threw it back to the field.

"There are certainly things that didn't end up the way I'd have liked them to," said Burke. "I'm happy to be here. For me, I've got plenty of incentive every time I take the field. It's tough to add to that."

Game notes
Drew's hit streak is Arizona's longest since Danny Bautista hit in 21 straight games in April 2004. ... The Astros surpassed the 25 million mark in attendance at Minute Maid Park, which opened in 2000. ... The Astros' four pitchers recorded 12 total strikeouts.