CAN HE AVOID A JUNE SWOON?:

Diamondbacks' Webb improves to 6-0 again (ALAN ROBINSON, 5/10/06, The Associated Press)

Brandon Webb must be wondering how much better it can get than this.

Webb withstood a shaky start to win his sixth in a row, Chad Tracy had four hits and Shawn Green drove in three runs to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 7-4 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday night.

Webb gave up three runs and 10 hits despite constantly being in trouble over six innings, but worked out of enough jams to improve to 6-0 in eight starts. He has the most victories of any unbeaten pitcher in the majors, never allowing more than three runs in any start during his streak.

"Tonight was the most I'd say he's gotten hit all year, and he still only gave up three runs," Green said. "He's our guy and we're trying to ride him every time he pitches."

Now come the hard part for the right-handed Webb, who also was 6-0 last season before finishing 14-12. He has a 15-7 record in April and May during his career, but is 21-30 in other months.