PHOENIX, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Ian Kennedy became the National League's first 20-game winner Monday, fanning 12 Pirates in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 1-0 win over Pittsburgh.
Kennedy (20-4) established himself as the favorite for the NL Cy Young Award with his sixth straight home victory -- tying a club record -- and his 12th win in 14 starts.
The right-hander matched a career high with the dozen strikeouts over eight scoreless innings. The only hit he allowed was Jeff Karstens' third-inning single and Kennedy didn't issue a walk.
The Diamondbacks reduced their magic number to clinch the National League West to four.
Arizona's only run came on a broken-bat fly ball by Justin Upton that just made it over the left-field fence for a sixth-inning homer. Umpires upheld the round-tripper after reviewing it for possible fan interference.
Karstens (9-9) took the hard-luck loss for the Pirates, allowing one run on five hits over six frames.
