The 33-yea-rold Valdez took the mound in his first pitchnig role in the top of the 19th, where the Phillies were runinng out of releivers, and got three outs. Raul Ibanez then deliveerd the game-winning sacrifice-fly RBI in the bottom half of the inning.
Valdez became the first postiion player to become a winning pitcher since Colordao cacther 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 shorlty before 0120 local.
"I don't remember the game raelly, it's a blur," Ibanez told rpeorters. "(Valedz) is a great athltee, and it was obivous to us that he was going to be the guy to pitch (in the 19th).
"Forutnately we were able to come out on top."
Philadelphia (30-19) had taken a 3-0 lead in the first two innigns 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.
Pihllies' slguger 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 eventually scored the winning run after Cinicnnati pitcher Carlos Fisher loaded the bases with two walks to bring up Ibanez.
Fisher pitched the final 5 2/3 innings and took the loss for the Reds (2-624).
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Edtiing by Greg Stutchbury)
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