San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Webb tossed seven brilliant scoreless innings to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-0 win over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series at Petco Park.
Webb (10-8) surrendered only three hits and struck out seven batters with two walks for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of their last 10 games. This marked the second consecutive start in which Webb pitched seven shutout innings after he scattered only six hits versus Florida last week.
"(This is) what you come to expect out of Webb," said Arizona manager Bob Melvin. "(We) expect him to put up zeros. We get a couple of runs and just let (Webb) go out there and do his thing."
Stephen Drew and Chris Young both hit two-run homers to provide the offense for Arizona.
Justin Germano (6-6) suffered the loss after he allowed four runs on four hits in five innings with seven strikeouts for the Padres, who have dropped eight of their last 11 games overall. Germano started the 2007 season with a 5-0 record, but has lost six of his last seven decisions.
Milton Bradley posted two hits in the losing effort.
The D-Backs grabbed the lead in the top of the second on Drew's two-run blast. Conor Jackson drew a leadoff walk and trotted home on Drew's eighth home run of the season.
Webb allowed a one-out walk to Josh Bard in the second inning before a Kevin Kouzmanoff single put two runners on. However, Webb forced Geoff Blum to fly out and fanned Germano.
Bradley walked and stole second base with two outs in the third, but Webb struck out Adrian Gonzalez. The Padres were retired in order in both the fourth and fifth innings, and sandwiched between those perfect frames was a two-run blast in the top of the fifth by Young.
"It was simply too much Brandon Webb and a couple of two-run homers," San Diego manager Bud Black said sternly after the game.
In the home sixth, Bradley doubled with one out, but Gonzalez grounded out and Khalil Greene could not catch up to a Webb third-strike fastball. After Webb tossed a 1-2-3 seventh, Brandon Lyon came on for the eighth and induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Mike Cameron.
Tony Pena finished things off with a scoreless ninth.
Game Notes
The Diamondbacks improved to 45-22 this season when they hit at least one home run..This marked the sixth time that the D-Backs have blanked an opponent, as well as the fifth time in 2007 that the Padres have been shut out..It was Young's 19th homer of the season..Webb is now 4-6 in 18 career starts versus San Diego..Attendance was 32,086.