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Webb works quickly to end D-Backs' skid
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The Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds, right, is congratulated by third-base coach Chip Hale, left, as Reynolds rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Washington Nationals pitcher Jason Bergmann in the second inning Saturday in Phoenix.
The Associated Press
Mark Reynolds had plenty of time to get to the Kenny Chesney concert at University of Phoenix Stadium on Saturday night. Brandon Webb made sure of it.
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Webb threw a six-hit shutout in the quickest game in Chase Field history as the Diamondbacks stopped a five-game slide with a 4-0 win over the Nationals.
The game lasted 1 hour, 52 minutes, two minutes shorter than a game between the D-Backs and Cardinals in 2006 in which Webb also pitched.
He struck out eight and had 15 ground-ball outs. Aaron Boone’s fly-out to Chris Young was the only catch made by an Arizona outfielder in the game.
“That’s what you have guys like that for,” Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. “That’s our horse.”
The Diamondbacks hit 1,659 feet worth of long balls to give Webb run support. Mark Reynolds had a pair of solo homers — including a mammoth 459-foot shot in the second — and Justin Upton and Chris Young had solo home runs as well.
The Dodgers lost, so the Diamondbacks move back ahead by 3½ games in the NL West despite recent struggles.
“Hopefully this kind of jump-starts us,” Webb said.
Reynolds, Upton and Young hit breaking balls for home runs.
“Those are some guys that have the potential to carry us,” Melvin said.
Webb was the first batter scheduled for the bottom of the eighth inning, and Melvin contemplated taking him out then. Webb hit, but Melvin gave him a pitch limit for the ninth.
Webb struck out Willie Harris to end the game knowing it was the last batter he would face.
Turning point: Mark Reynolds hit a 459-foot solo homer to left in the second inning, all the support ace Brandon Webb would need.
Stat of the game: The game lasted just 1 hour, 52 minutes, the quickest game in Chase Field history.
Unsung hero: Not only did he hit two homers, Reynolds made a diving, over-the-shoulder catch in the ninth inning to save a hit off the bat of Dmitri Young.
Back-to-back jacks: Justin Upton and Reynolds hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning, the first time the Diamondbacks have done that this season.
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