Webb keeps Diamondbacks rolling against Mets <h3>ARIZONA 5, NY METS 1</h3>FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Mets had adepleted starting lineup, but it may have made no difference theway Brandon Webb was pitching. Webb tossed eight strong innings and Chris Snyder and StephenDrew homered as the red-hot Diamondbacks extended their winningstreak to eight games with a 5-1 victory over the Mets in theopener of a three-game series. The Diamondbacks are enjoying their longest winning streak sincea 12-game run from June 18-30, 2003, and have won 11 of theirlast 13 overall. "You want to be the one to keep this thing going," Webb said. Webb (5-3) defeated the Mets for only the second time in eightcareer decisions, allowing just an unearned run and four hitswith one walk and eight strikeouts. The other win was in hisfirst major league start in 2003, also at Shea Stadium. "He had his good stuff going and handed it to us," Metsoutfielder Ben Johnson said. Ironically, Webb said he never felt completely comfortable afternot getting a chance to throw a side session on an off dayThursday. "My arm didn't feel very good at all. I didn't feel as good aswhat happened," Webb said. "But I got the pitches where Iwanted to and there was great defense all around." The starter has earned the victory in each game of Arizona'scurrent winning streak. Brandon Lyon worked around a leadoff walk to finish up in theninth. Jose Reyes had a pair of infield singles for the Mets, who lostfor just the second time in seven games. The Mets played without third baseman David Wright, who has backspasms, and center fielder Carlos Beltran, who was forced toleave Thursday's game with a bruised knee. With outfielders Moises Alou and Shawn Green and second basemanJose Valentin already on the disabled list, the Mets had alineup that featured just three regulars - shortstop Jose Reyes,catcher Paul Lo Duca and first baseman Carlos Delgado. "That's fine with me. Those guys can take the whole series offif they want. We'll take it," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvinsaid. "Whoever they put out there, they get a chance to win." That lineup could do next to nothing against Webb until theeighth, when pinch hitter Ruben Gotay drove in the lone Mets'run with an RBI single. It scored David Newhan, who had reachedon an infield single and went to second on a throwing error bythird baseman Mark Reynolds. Reyes single off the glove of Reynolds in the third but wasthrown out trying to steal by Snyder on a pitchout. In thesixth, Reyes reached on a bunt single and stole second, but wasleft stranded when Endy Chavez struck out. The only other Met in scoring position in the first seveninnings was Julio Franco, who walked and stole second in thesecond. Webb ended the threat by striking out Newhan. John Maine (6-2) took the loss despite six strong innings. Heallowed two runs and five hits with no walks and struck outseven, but made the one fateful mistake to Snyder. "I did a job, for the most part, getting the ball in," Mainesaid. "I left the one pitch over the plate." Carlos Quentin doubled to left field with one out and the fifthand Snyder followed by belting a 1-2 pitch over the left-centerfield wall for his fourth homer. "I love helping out with the offense, but my focus is on beingbehind the plate," Snyder said. "I'm just trying to hit theball hard." Arizona added three runs in the eighth off Guillermo Mota.Orlando Hudson and Reynolds singled with two outs before Drewhit his second homer of the season to right field.
