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.