<
>

Cy Young contender Logan Webb 'tired of losing,' says winning trumps award

SAN FRANCISCO -- Blake Snell tossed six shutout innings in his latest terrific start for the San Diego Padres as he makes a final push for the National League Cy Young Award -- but Giants ace Logan Webb will probably get some votes too, especially after what he did Monday night in a matchup of teams clinging to slim playoff hopes.

Webb pitched his second complete game this season, and pinch hitter Michael Conforto delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning to lift San Francisco over the Padres 2-1.

The game marked Webb's 24th quality start this season -- tops in the majors, according to the Giants. Webb, whose first career complete game was a shutout of the Colorado Rockies on July 9, also leads the big leagues with 216 innings pitched.

"This is a pretty significant statement game when you're going up against another Cy Young Award candidate," San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said of Webb. "He was totally efficient, totally in control. Never lost his delivery, never lost his stuff. There wasn't a hint of struggle the entire game."

Snell lowered his major-league-best ERA to 2.25.

Webb (11-13) had seven strikeouts and allowed nine hits on 110 pitches for the Giants (78-79), who moved within 4½ games of the final postseason spot in the NL. They have five games remaining.

"To be honest, winning is more important," Webb said when asked about the Cy Young Award. "If we don't do that, then it's kind of a waste. That's my goal. I'm tired of losing. It's not enjoyable. It's not fun. We have to make some big changes in here to create that winning culture that we want to show up every single year and try to win the whole thing."

San Diego (77-80) is 5½ games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs, who are tied for the last two of three NL wild cards. One more loss by the Padres or one more win for the Diamondbacks and Cubs would eliminate San Diego.

After the Padres got runners to second and third with one out in the ninth, Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. fielded Ji Man Choi's grounder and threw home to get a sliding Juan Soto. Webb then got pinch hitter Jurickson Profar to ground out to end it.

The Giants couldn't get much going against Snell -- who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays -- but came through against the Padres' bullpen.

"It's kind of hard to go pitch for pitch with [Snell]," Webb said. "He's going to win the Cy Young. He's the best pitcher in baseball. It's always a pleasure watching him."

Wade began the comeback with a one-out walk against Robert Suarez (4-3) in the eighth. After Marco Luciano doubled and pinch hitter Joc Pederson was intentionally walked, Choi fielded Patrick Bailey's grounder to first and threw home for the forceout.

Conforto, signed in the offseason to add some spark to San Francisco's lineup, then laced a 1-1 fastball down the third-base line to drive in Wade and Luciano as the crowd of 28,559 at Oracle Park roared.

"It was a lightning jolt of energy that we felt in the dugout," said Webb, who has had fewer than three runs of support in 22 of 33 starts.

Snell gave up four hits and walked two in what might be his last start of the regular season. Set to become a free agent this fall, he pitched with runners on base in every inning. He also had six strikeouts to raise his season total to 233, second most in the majors behind the Atlanta Braves' Spencer Strider (274).

It also marked the 23rd consecutive game in which Snell has given up three earned runs or fewer, the longest streak in Padres history.

Manny Machado drove in San Diego's only run with a bloop single in the first. Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Brett Sullivan each had two hits.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.