PHOENIX ? Former Kentucky standout pitcher Brandon Webb, who earlier this season became the first former UK star to be named a Major League Baseball All-Star, was announced Tuesday as the National League Cy Young winner.

The current Arizona Diamondback?s star finished the season tied for the National League lead in wins with a career-high 16, as well as finishing second in the league in innings pitched (235) and third in ERA (3.10). Webb, whose most dominating pitch is a devastating sinkerball, led the majors in the ground out to fly out ratio at 3.64 and his 400 overall ground outs ranked second in the MLB. Webb also posted 23 ?quality? starts, good for fifth in the majors.

Six pitchers were tied for the league lead with 16 wins and Webb received 15 of 32 first-place votes and 103 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers? Association of America. Webb was listed second on seven ballots and third on seven others.

Webb began the season on a tear, opening up with eight consecutive wins over his first 11 starts. He set a Diamondback record with 30 consecutive shutout innings over the course of May 20-June 5. Webb?s best Major League single-game performance occurred on September 9 against the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, tossing a one-hitter in a 3-0 win.

Webb, a native of Ashland, lettered at Kentucky from 1998-2000 and is third in the Wildcat record book for career strikeouts with 259. His best season as a Wildcat came during his junior campaign in 2000, when he hurled 113.2 innings, striking out 123.

San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman and St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter finished second and third in the voting.