Diamondbacks-Athletics: Brandon Webb Takes Beating As ERA Balloons

Before Tuesday night's game against the visiting Oakland A's, former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb was leading the Major Leagues in wins (11) and had the NL's fourth-best ERA 2.73.  

But Brandon Webb lasted only three and one-third innings against the A's, who collectively bat .255, as he saw his ERA balloon .54 runs to 3.27.  The A's scored seven earned runs off Webb, as this season's best pitcher surrendered two HR and four doubles before he was yanked in the fourth inning. 

The A's onslaught continued after Webb's departure. The Oakland offense rang up four more HRs on Arizona's relief pitching, including two on the night by the A's second sacker, Mark Ellis.  Oakland broke a six-game homerless streak, their longest since 1983, with a vengeance, and defeated the Diamondbacks, 15-1.  

The A's are on a four-game winning streak.

A's pitcher Justin Duchscherer didn't contribute offensively, going 0-for-4 with four Ks, but pitched a five hit, one run game through eight innings. Duchscherer was also efficient, making only 93 pitches on the evening. 

But the stories of the night were the A's offense, and Webb's struggles. 

Oakland had all sorts of season highs in the game, including six home runs and scoring 15 runs for the second time this year.  

Webb struggled with his command all night, as he tied his career high with five walks in the outing.  Webb had allowed only six walks in his previous eight starts. 

Webb's start against the A's comes off a disappointing three-run, five-inning campaign against the New York Mets.  The Oakland broadcast team was heard speculating about Webb's workload, and whether he might be tiring at this point in the season. 

But after the game Arizona manager Bob Melvin insisted that Webb isn't suffering a "dead arm," and noted that his velocity is back up and that his ace felt good before the start. Melvin and catcher Chris Snyder gave credit to the A's, saying it was one of those games where no matter what Arizona threw up there, the A's hit it. 

Arizona has lost three games in a row by a combined score of 35-7.