Okay, so I got it wrong.  In today’s TSTC, I noted how I thought Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb was going to basically lose and get hit hard by one of the top offenses in all of baseball, the Cincinnati Reds.  And in one of the notorious hitter’s parks in all of the Major Leagues nonetheless.

Well, it seems I underestimated the power of the sinker.

Webb simply dominated the Reds, pitching a complete game shutout, giving up seven hits, only one walk, and striking out five.  Webb allowed only two doubles and five singles, his above average sinker keeping all balls in the park.  Reds’ OF Adam Dunn collected three hits and was the only Red with more than one hit.

The victory improves Webb’s record to an impressive 8-0.  A feat no other Diamondbacks pitcher has ever accomplished to start a season.  Not Randy Johnson, nor Curt Schilling.  This accomplishment isn’t too outlandish to happen, however, since Webb possesses incredible stuff and for his career has a very good K/9 rate(strikeouts per nine innings) of 7.21 and an excellent 3.21 ERA.  And Webb is proving this season that when he can control his bases on balls allowed, he can be downright dominant as he was tonight.

In any case, how did the two other pitchers I spotlighted - Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ Scott Kazmir and Chicago White Sox’s Freddie Garcia - do in their quest for their eighth win?  Kazmir, against the Boston Red Sox, gave five earned runs in 5.1 innings and needless to say, got the loss.  Garcia, against the Toronto Blue Jays, also gave up five earned in 5.1 innings and also got a check in the loss column.

So, if I learned anything tonight, it’s this: Do not underestimate the power of the sinker!