17Sep/0810:23 PM

D-Backs hang on for win, tighten gap in NL West

By Vince Marotta

Photo: AP/Ross D. Franklin

The Skinny: The Arizona Diamondbacks had an unusual offensive explosion, scoring 5 runs in the second inning, built a 7-3 lead and then hung on for dear life in a 7-6 win over the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. The Giants’ jumped on Arizona starter Brandon Webb early, putting up 3 runs in the first inning. The Diamondbacks answered with one of their own in the bottom half of the first, and then put 5 on the board in the second. Brandon Webb tied the game at 3 apiece with a double knocking in Chris Snyder and Chris Young. It was the D-Backs’ first run-scoring hit that wasn’t a home run since last Friday. The onslaught continued as Stephen Drew singled in Webb, and Justin Upton unloaded on a 443-foot blast to straight away center that scored two more.

Webb settled down after his shaky first frame. The right-hander went seven innings, scattering 8 hits and 2 earned runs. He threw only 88 pitches on the night. Juan Cruz worked a perfect 8th inning, and then things got interesting in the ninth. Lefty Doug Slaten started the inning and issued back-to-back walks to Scott McClain and Eugenio Velez. Tony Pena then entered the game and gave up a two-run triple to the ancient Omar Vizquel that made it 7-5. Vizquel would later score on a groundout to make it 7-6. Pena then got Dave Roberts and Randy Winn each to ground out to second to end the ballgame and give Webb his 21st win on the season.

Repercussions: The Pirates finally beat the Dodgers 15-8, allowing the Diamondbacks to pick up a full-game on the first place Dodgers, who saw their lead shrink to 3.5 games.

Drew on fire: Stephen Drew went 4 for 5 on the night. It was his 4th 4-hit game of the year, and his second this month.

He can hit too: Webb’s double was his 3rd of the year, and his 9 rbis lead all Diamondback pitchers and rank second in the National League among pitchers. Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano has driven in 14 runs this season.

MLB.com : Recap | Boxscore

Here’s what others are saying about the Diamondbacks’ third straight win over the Giants…

Webb, D-Backs get past Giants [AZCentral]

Webb helps Arizona narrow gap in NL West [SF Gate/AP]

Webb helps Cy Young case after barely beating Giants [Oakland Tribune]

The 4-game series concludes Thursday with Cy Young frontrunner Tim Lincecum going to the mound for the Giants facing 5-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson. First pitch is at 6:40 from Chase Field.