(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Eric Byrnes had one hit last night. A 4th inning single. But it drove in a run and at the end of the game, it was the run that gave the Diamondbacks the victory over the Giants 5-4.

It was not a stellar night for Brandon Webb. The first 5 batters he faced produced a single, another single that moved the runner on first to third, a sacrifice fly, yet another single and a walk. Webb settled down enough to get two more outs. The second inning was also rocky; he gave up two runs.

It’s times like these when an ace shows what he’s made of. Brandon Webb closed the door in the third inning…and the fourth, fifth and sixth innings as well. Six innings with three runs is technically a quality start, though in Webb’s case, we know better.

Webb helped his own cause at the plate with a two-run double in the fourth. He later scored on Byrnesie’s single, which knocked Barry Zito out of the box. That’s the second time in a row that Byrnesie has done that to his old teammate. Great! That means he’s finally learning how to hit BZ’s soft stuff.

Poor Zito. I have a soft spot in my heart for pitchers who can get the job done without the blazing fastball. Trouble is, BZ is no longer getting the job done. Hey, Barry, you have my blessings to go out and win every start for the rest of the year, except against the Diamondbacks or the Mets.

Byrnesie’s single was the end of the Diamondbacks’ offense, as the Giants bullpen was ON.

The Giants got a run in the 8th off Pena, which is why Webb’s scoring on Byrnes’ single proved critical. It was a close play at the plate. Webb managed to just step around Bengie Molina’s tag.

Qualls and Pena got holds. Lyon got a save. No homers were hit.

Now it’s back on the road for two in LA and the weekend in San Diego, ending an epic month of 22 intradivison games. The Diamondbacks go into tonight’s contest (Haren vs. Lowe) with a record of 15-5. No other team in the NL West has gotten to 10 wins yet. (All the others lost last night). No other team in the NL West is even playing at or above .500.

I’m enjoying this.

Byrnesblogger1

Join the discussion at The Fanster Forums. Arizona Sports 24/7.