Webb wins his ninth in Arizona victory over Colorado

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Brandon Webb maintained his unbeaten record to become Major League Baseball's first nine-game winner this season when he pitched the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Supported by a three-run homer from catcher Chris Snyder and four hits from Stephen Drew, Webb worked 7 1/3 innings and allowed six hits, one walk and three runs while striking out eight.

Webb improved to 9-0 and the Diamondbacks climbed to a league-leading 26-15 after their sweep of the three-game series against the defending National League champions.

The 29-year-old righthander became the first pitcher in the majors to win his first nine starts of a season since San Diego's Andy Hawkins accomplished the feat in 1985.

Rockies hurler Aaron Cook, who had won six successive starts, fell to 6-2.

Arizona staked Webb to a quick 1-0 lead on a string of singles by Chris Young, Drew and Orlando Hudson leading off the first inning.

The D-backs chased Cook with a four-run fifth after Drew doubled home Young, Hudson walked and Snyder powered a homer over the left field fence.

Colorado finally got on the board with a run in the seventh and two in the eighth that sent Webb to the dugout.

After Arizona scored three in their half of the eighth for an 8-3 lead, the Rockies mounted one final rally.

Arizona reliever Brandon Medders loaded the bases with no one out in the ninth.

Closer Brandon Lyon allowed two runners to score but struck out Clint Barmes and got Matt Holliday to ground out to third to notch his 12th save.

The victory continued the Diamondbacks' mastery of the Rockies.

Arizona has won eight of nine against Colorado this season with Webb instrumental in three of them.

(Writing by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by John O'Brien)