Webb moves onto another record-setting mission
Filed Under Kitchen Curtain | Posted on May 17, 2008
Another year, another record run. When Brandon Webb won his ninth consecutive start in an 8-5 victory over Colorado on Thursday, he became the fifth pitcher to win his first nine starts since 1920, according to Elias.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Webb said of his current run. “Things are just happening. Almost every time I’ve been out there, they’ve gotten me a lead.”
The others who have won their first nine starts since 1920 are Andy Hawkins, San Diego, 1985; Sal Maglie, New York Giants, 1952; Atley Donald, New York Yankees, 1939; and George Uhle, Detroit, 1929. Ed Cicotte won his first 12 with the 1919 Chicago White Sox, the infamous Black Sox.
Webb has won his last 11 regular-season starts, including two last September, and his last 13 decisions, over 14 starts, since Sept. 7, 2007.
He is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA against Colorado this season after going 1-3 with a 5.77 ERA against the Rockies in six starts last year, although his one victory clinched the NL West title Sept. 28.
Webb struck out a season-high eight Thursday, seven third strikes coming on a changeup, which he has developed into a strong complement to the sinking fastball that he once relied upon almost exclusively.
“The great ones find a way to stay ahead of the curve,” Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. “Webb has taken it upon himself to get his changeup to throw at any position in the count, and his curveball is a go-to pitch, also.
“Regardless of the dynamic late life that his fastball has, he has a couple of other options to challenge you with, which puts him in a very comfortable position from a pitching standpoint. A hitter doesn’t know what to expect. Whatever he throws is going to go down, and that’s about it.”
Werth makes rare call
Jayson Werth had seen other hitters summoned from the dugout to give a curtain call to fans after hitting a big home run, but he’d never been asked to do it himself.
On Friday night, he gave two. Werth also gave a performance for the ages, tying a Phillies record with eight RBI and becoming the 18th player in club history to hit three home runs in a game, in a 10-3 rout of the Blue Jays. He became only the fifth Phillies player to knock in eight runs, joining Kitty Bransfield (July 11, 1910), Gavvy Cravath (Aug. 8, 1915), Willie “Puddin’ Head” Jones (Aug. 20, 1958) and Mike Schmidt (April 17, 1976).
Jayson Werth’s big night led to a curtain call. (H. Rumph Jr. / Associated Press)
“After the second one, I came in and looked at the video, and they put up a graphic,” said Werth, a former Blue Jays prospect. “I rewound it and paused it and looked at it and said, ‘Man, I have a chance to do something special.’”
Werth smashed his first two home runs to the opposite field against Jays rookie lefty David Purcey, who was sent to the minors after the game. The first, a three-run shot in the second inning, landed in the right-field bleachers. The second, Werth’s first career grand slam, dented an advertisement on the facade below the second deck and opened an 8-2 lead in the third inning.
By the fifth, Purcey had been replaced by right-hander Jesse Litsch. No matter. Werth hit a solo shot into the left-field seats and became the first Phillies player since Ryan Howard on Sept. 3, 2006 to homer three times in a game.
“I’ve never had a curtain call,” Werth said. “You see guys get them and they’re cool. It was a special moment. I won’t forget this night.”
Tags: 1919 chicago white sox, andy hawkins, atley, becom, black sox, brandon webb, changeup, chicago white sox, clint hurdle, curta, curtain, curtain call, curveball, decisions, dugout, ed cicotte, fastball, friday night, game, hurdle, jayson werth, last september, new york giants, new york yankees, nl west title, sal maglie, victoryRelated posts
Leave a Reply