Times wires
Thursday, May 26, 2011
PHILADELPHIA — Wilson Valdez has a new career as a late-inning reliever. Really, really late.
Valdez shifted from second base and wound up as the winning pitcher when the Phillies needed 19 innings to outlast the Reds 5-4 early Thursday.
In front of a dwindling crowd at Citizens Bank Park, Raul Ibanez hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to decide the longest major-league game this season. It ended at 1:19 a.m. local time after 6 hours, 11 minutes.
"I can go for three more, four more (innings). Whatever," Valdez said in the locker room.
Valdez, 33, threw a hitless 19th inning in his first professional pitching appearance.
The first batter he faced was Joey Votto, and the reigning National League MVP flied out to deep center.
Valdez hit 90 mph on a fastball to Votto. He shook off catcher Dane Sardinha.
The infielder became the first position player to earn a win since Colorado catcher Brent Mayne went one inning to beat the Braves on Aug. 22, 2000, Stats LLC said.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard put his mitt over his face to hide his smile when Valdez shook off his catcher.
"I was like, 'What is he going to throw? What does he have?' " Howard said. "It was funny, but he got it done."
Valdez hit Scott Rolen, but then retired Jay Bruce on a fly ball and got reliever Carlos Fisher on a popup.