Webb Is Too Tough for Rockies

Rookie right-hander Brandon Webb pitched seven strong innings and Chad Moeller drove in three runs, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Colorado Rockies, 8-4, Thursday night for a split of their four-game series at Coors Field.

Moeller hit one of the Diamondbacks’ four home runs -- the first time Arizona has hit four in a game since Sept. 29, the finale of the 2002 season. Steve Finley had a two-run homer, and Shea Hillenbrand and Robby Hammock added solo shots as Arizona won for the 13th time in 15 games.

The win also moved the Diamondbacks into second place in the National League West, one-half game ahead of the Dodgers.

Webb (5-2), who threw a seven-hit shutout against Detroit on Sunday, gave up one run and eight hits. He walked one and struck out six.

“Sinkers, that’s all he throws, with a few changeups and curves,” said Moeller, Arizona’s catcher. “He throws right off the dirt in front of the plate. With Brandon on the mound, we knew we had a pitcher who was throwing strikes and getting groundballs.”

Webb has yielded three or fewer earned runs while working a minimum of six innings in each of his 12 major league starts. It’s the longest stretch of “quality starts” to begin a big league career since Montreal’s Steve Rogers had 16 in a row in 1973.

Philadelphia 12, Chicago 2 -- The Phillies have won 13 of 16, including eight of nine, to cut Atlanta’s lead in the NL East in half. They moved within 4 1/2 games of the Braves, who lost to Montreal. The Cubs have lost seven of nine.

Placido Polanco had three hits and three RBIs and Brett Myers pitched into the seventh inning to lead the Phillies in front of 57,326 at Veterans Stadium.

Montreal 5, Atlanta 4 -- Rookie Claudio Vargas won his third straight start and the Expos remained unbeaten in Atlanta.

Third-place Montreal, which began the season with a three-game sweep at Turner Field, moved to within six games of the Braves, who have lost three of four and six of nine. The Braves are 16-19 against East opponents.

Vargas (6-3) yielded eight hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings without walking a batter.

Pittsburgh 8, Cincinnati 7 -- Matt Stairs hit two-run homers off Ryan Dempster in consecutive at-bats and the Pirates held off the Reds’ third comeback attempt in three nights at Pittsburgh.

Stairs gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead in the third inning, then added a second two-run shot in the fifth -- his fifth homer in 16 at-bats over five games -- to give the Pirates an 8-2 lead.

Houston 7, Milwaukee 3 -- Left-hander Jeriome Robertson won his sixth consecutive decision and Jeff Bagwell and Geoff Blum each hit a three-run homer at Houston.

Robertson (7-3) hasn’t lost in 12 starts since April 25 against the New York Mets and leads the team in wins. He yielded three runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings before Octavio Dotel got five outs for his third save, keeping the Astros tied with St. Louis for first place in the Central division.