Brandon Webb: Did I Catch a Niner in There?

Brandon Webb is on fire.

The Arizona Diamondbacks righty is now a ridiculous 9-0 with a 2.56 ERA and 49 strikeouts over his first nine starts this season. Totally out of control. He's actually on a roll from last September, having won his final two starts of the 2007 season.

According to Elias, Webb is just one consecutive win behind former San Diego Padres hurler Andy Hawkins, won his first 10 in 1985.

Webb can thank not only his sweet sinker, but also Stephen Drew for his latest shroud of run support, as the shortstop singled in the first, tripled in the third and doubled in the fifth against Colorado Rockies starter Aaron Cook, driving in one run. Sadly, Drew had two shots at the cycle but ended up doubling in the sixth and reaching on an error in the eighth.

You can see Webb in action again this Wednesday against the Florida Marlins.

[Arizona Republic]

The Tampa Bay Rays are Serious

Remember when the Tampa Bay Rays defense was like a circus act and their lineup was kind of a joke? Like... two years ago?

Well, don't let the sun-shiny logo fool you. They are straight us business now.

Coming off a weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, the Rays pounded the New York Yankees 7-1 Monday night for their fifth consecutive win, inching within a half-game of the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox. This last victory was a bit sweeter, as they defeated evil nemesis Andy Pettitte, who allowed five runs on eight hits over just four innings of work after a previous record of 8-1 at Tropicana Field.