PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Philadelphia Phillies celebrated a 5-4 victory, in 19 innings, over the Cincinnati Reds that ended early on Thursday after an unlikely pitching debut by second baseman Wilson Valdez.
The 33-year-old Valdez took the mound in his first pitching role in the top of the 19th, where the Phillies were running out of relievers, and got three outs. Raul Ibanez then delivered the game-winning sacrifice-fly RBI in the bottom half of the inning.
Valdez became the first position player to become a winning pitcher since Colorado 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 shortly before 0120 local.
"I don't remember the game really, it's a blur," Ibanez told reporters. "(Valdez) is a great athlete, and it was obvious to us that he was going to be the guy to pitch (in the 19th).
"Fortunately we were able to come out on top."
Phillies' 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 eventually 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 innings and took the loss for the Reds (26-24).
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.