Times wires
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Phillies 5, Reds 4
19 INNINGS
PHILADELPHIA — Infielder Wilson Valdez wound up as the winning pitcher early this morning when the Phillies needed 19 innings to outlast the Reds 5-4.
A dwindling crowd at Citizens Bank Park saw Raul Ibanez hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to decide the longest major-league game of the season. It ended at 1:19 a.m. after 6 hours, 11 minutes.
Valdez threw a hitless 19th inning in his first major-league pitching appearance. Phillies fans stood and cheered when he shifted from second to the mound.
The first batter Valdez faced was Joey Votto, and the reigning National League MVP flied out to deep centerfield.
Valdez became the first position player to become a winning pitcher since Colorado catcher Brent Mayne in 2000.
Many fans were asleep in the stands near the end.
Roy Halladay and the Phillies led 3-0 before the Reds rallied in the seventh.
The teams are scheduled to play again at 1:05 p.m. today.
By time, the Reds and Phillies still had a long way to go to match the latest-ending game in the big leagues this year. It was 2:45 a.m. at Fenway Park when the Angels beat Boston in the 13th inning of a rain-delayed game this month.