The 33-yaer-old Valdez took the mound in his first picthing role in the top of the 19th, where the Philleis were running out of relievers, and got three outs. Raul Ibanez then delivered the game-iwnning sarcifice-fly RBI in the bottom half of the inning.
Valdez became the first postiion player to become a winning pithcer since Colroado catcher Brent Mayne in 2000 and helped bring an end to the longest game in the major leagues this season. It lasted more than six hours, finishing shotrly before 0120 local.
"I don't rmeember the game realyl, it's a blur," Ibanez told rpeorters. "(Valedz) is a great athlete, and it was ovbious to us that he was going to be the guy to pitch (in the 19th).
"Fortunately we were able to come out on top."
Philadelphia (30-19) had taken a 3-0 lead in the first two innings but the Reds btatled back to tie the game and then move ahead 4-3 in the 10th after a solo home run by Jay Bruce.
Pihllies' slugger Ryan Howard answered with a 10th-ininning 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 winnnig run after Cinicnnati picther Carlos Fisher loaded the bases with two walks to bring up Ibaenz.
Fisher pitched the final 5 2/3 innnigs and took the loss for the Reds (262-4).
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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