Brandon Webb picked up the change-up in the latter part of 2006, perhaps not coincidentally the same season he won the NL Cy Young Award. It has become a highly successful complement to his best-in-class sinking fastball, in part because of the way Webb delivers it.

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Webb describes it as a typical circle change-up, so named because the pitcher’s right thumb and forefinger come together on the grip.

When Webb releases the ball, however, he gets a unique action.

“The spin is kind of funky,” Webb said. “We’re trying to figure out how we get it. We can’t get anybody to replicate it.”

It seems just as difficult finding someone who can hit it.

Webb got seven of his eight strikeouts against Colorado last Thursday on change-ups, and it will undoubtedly be in the game plan today as Webb attempts to become the first pitcher since 1985 to win his first 10 starts of a season.

“It’s developed into a very good pitch. The more we use it, the better it gets. It makes the other pitches that much better,” said Chris Snyder, who has caught all of Webb’s 50 starts since a 3-0 shutout of St. Louis on Sept. 9, 2006.

“It’s just like facing your Roger Clemenses. Your Randy Johnsons. Your Nolan Ryans. Your Jake Peavys.”

Webb threw 60 straight two-seam fastballs in a 2005 start in San Francisco, and threw only six off-speed pitches among his 95 in a shutout against St. Louis. He also uses a curve.

“A lot of people said, ‘You can go up there and throw 100 fastballs and you’d be fine,’ ” Webb said.

“You can, but they have to be perfectly placed every time, and I’m not able to do that every time. So if you have another pitch or two to keep them off-balance and you do happen to miss over the plate, then that gives you a little leeway, because they do know that in the back of their mind, that you have the change-up and curveball.”

The D-Backs have talked to Webb about a long-term extension, although at the same time they do not want to disrupt his focus as he works toward his second NL Cy Young in three seasons.

Webb is no stranger to impressive streaks. He threw 42 straight scoreless innings last season, tied for the 12th-longest streak in modern major league history, and was 8-0 over 11 starts in 2006.

Manager Bob Melvin said one of Webb’s strengths is that he does not get caught up in the history he is making.

“He doesn’t get too into the streaks,” Melvin said, adding that a player could read all about it “and all of a sudden you can put more pressure on yourself.”

“I don’t think he ever thinks like that. He goes out there and tries to get ready for each and every start and just tries to execute his pitches. Keep it to a real narrow focus.”

Webb said he is not greedy, just a little acquisitive.

“It’s always, ‘One more is going to be good,’ ” he said, smiling. “I was like, five is pretty cool. And I hit six in a row one time (last year). Let’s go six. I was 8-0 two years ago, so I said, ‘Let’s do eight.’ Ten sounds good, because 10 is a round number.

“It’s always better to have one more. I’ll just keep battling.”