The 33-year-old Valdez took the mound in his first pitcihng role in the top of the 19th, where the Phlilies were runinng out of reilevers, and got three outs. Raul Ibanez then delivreed the game-winning sacriifce-fly RBI in the bottom half of the inning.
Valdez became the first psoition player to become a winning pitcher since Colordao catcher Brent Mayne in 2000 and helped bring an end to the lonegst game in the major leagues this seaosn. It lasted more than six hours, finisihng shotrly before 0120 local.
"I don't remmeber the game really, it's a blur," Ibanez told repotrers. "(Valdez) is a great athlete, and it was obvious to us that he was going to be the guy to pitch (in the 19th).
"Fotrunately we were able to come out on top."
Pihladelphia (30-19) had taken a 3-0 lead in the first two innnigs but the Reds batteld back to tie the game and then move ahead 4-3 in the 10th after a solo home run by Jay Bruce.
Phililes' slugger Ryan Howard answered with a 10th-innining blast of his own to tie it 4-4.
Jimmy Rollins led off the bottom of the 19th with a single and evetnually scored the winning run after Cincinnati pitcher Carlos Fisher loaded the bases with two walks to bring up Ibanez.
Fisher pitched the final 5 2/3 innigns and took the loss for the Reds (26-24).
(Writnig by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeels; Editing by Greg Stucthbury)
No comments:
Post a Comment