• Webb now 9-0 as Arizona beats Rockies (AP)

  

  Mr. Automatic was at it again. Backed by Stephen Drew's career-high four hits, Brandon Webb became the major leagues' first nine-game winner when the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Thursday night. Webb (9-0) has won his first nine starts, the most since San Diego's Andy Hawkins won his first 10 in 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

  
  

• Brewers sign Braun to 8-year, $45M deal (AP)

  

  Ryan Braun grinned. He had just agreed to the largest contract in Milwaukee Brewers' history. "I really believe in the direction this franchise is headed," the NL Rookie of the Year said Thursday after his $45 million, eight-year deal was announced. "I'm extremely excited in our future." Braun's contract, which runs through 2015, replaces the $455,000, one-year renewal the Brewers gave him in spring...

  
  

• Indians' scoreless streak ends at 44 1-3 (AP)

  

  It wasn't even a bad pitch that ended the Cleveland Indians' scoreless streak. An unearned run against Aaron Laffey on his own throwing error halted the starting rotation's run of 44 1-3 consecutive shutout innings, but didn't interrupt their string of dominant outings. Laffey pitched the Indians to a 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep and giving the...

  
  

• Kazmir, Rays drop Yanks into last place (AP)

  

  Music blared in the Tampa Bay clubhouse and four large, flat-screen televisions mounted around a column in the middle of the room were tuned to the same in-house channel displaying the AL East standings. The surprising Rays are on top, and the sputtering Yankees are on the bottom. No one was gloating, though.

  
  

• Astros rally from 6 down to edge Giants (AP)

  

  Lance Berkman is going to ride this hitting tear he's on as long as possible. Same goes for Houston manager Cecil Cooper, who continues to be amazed by his club's gutsy play. Berkman splashed his major league-leading 15th home run into McCovey Cove to break a ninth-inning tie, helping the Astros rally past the San Francisco Giants 8-7 on Thursday for their 11th win in 13 games.

  
  

• Dempster's 12 Ks lift Cubs by Padres 4-0 (AP)

  

  Ryan Dempster called Greg Maddux a mentor and showed he learned some lessons. Dempster struck out a career-high 12 and hit a go-ahead single against Maddux during a four-run fifth inning, leading the Chicago Cubs over the punchless San Diego Padres 4-0 Thursday. "He's probably the greatest teammate I ever had," said Dempster, teammates with Maddux during 2 1/2 seasons in Chicago.

  
  

• Royals again sweep Tigers in 3-game set (AP)

  

  Neither the Detroit Tigers nor the Kansas City Royals saw this sweep coming. Jose Guillen homered and drove in three runs, Gil Meche pitched seven solid innings and the Royals beat Detroit 8-4 Thursday to complete another three-game sweep of the Tigers. Kansas City won its season-best fourth straight and improved to 6-0 this season against the skidding Tigers, who have lost four in a row and 10 of...

  
  

• Phils' Hamels gets first career shutout (AP)

  

  Cole Hamels finally finished what he started. The Philadelphia left-hander pitched his first career shutout, Ryan Howard homered and the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Thursday night. "I'm always wanting to go out there and finish it," said Hamels, who lowered his ERA from 3.36 to 2.89. "It was nice to finally get that done." Pedro Feliz and Shane Victorino also homered and drove in two...

  
  

• Dodgers hit 3 HRs in 7th, beat Brewers (AP)

  

  With third baseman Blake DeWitt sidelined because of an aching lower back, Dodgers coach Larry Bowa suggested to manager Joe Torre just before the game that he play Chin-Lung Hu as a fill-in. Torre tossed aside the advice of his friend and decided instead to start backup catcher Gary Bennett, who hadn't played in more than a week.

  
  

• Thome lifts White Sox over Angels 4-3 (AP)

  

  Slumping slugger Jim Thome had former teammate Jon Garland on the ropes in the second inning, coming up with the bases loaded and three runs already across the plate. He grounded out that time, but came through in the ninth when it mattered most. Thome hit a go-ahead RBI single off Francisco Rodriguez to help the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Thursday night and salvage a...

  
  

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