Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Player of the Game
Jay Bruce. Suddenly Bruce is the only player that can hit worth a damn. He went 3-8 with a home run and three RBI in this human centipede of a game. Honorable mentions go to Travis Wood for once again going toe to toe with Halladay, and to Carlos Fisher. Even though he gave up the winning run, he pitched five innings of scoreless relief up to that point. Our bullpen long men have been routinely giving us innings-eating heroics in the past several games, and Fisher is the latest to perform the task manfully.
Key Plays
- If the Reds could figure out how to not give up runs in the first inning, their record would be a far sight better. Instead, Travis Wood allowed a leadoff single to Jimmy Rollins (who wouldn't record another hit for 18 more innings), and then a home run to Ben Francisco. Phillies lead, 2-0.
- Jay Bruce was thrown out at home in the second inning on a fielder's choice with one out. That would loom.
- In the second inning, Carlos Ruiz doubled, and John Mayberry hit a single to center that was enough to bring Chooch around. Phillies lead, 3-0.
- A three run lead with Roy Halladay on the bump is a pretty decent recipe for success. But despite the fact that the Reds have been dying a lot lately, they never actually say die. In the fifth inning, Drew Stubbs led off with an infield single and stole second base. One batter later, Joey Votto singled to center, and Stubbs scored. Phillies lead, 3-1.
- In the seventh inning, pinch hitter Miguel Cairo singled, and Drew Stubbs singled too. Brandon Phillips bunted both runners into scoring position. Halladay intentionally walked Joey Votto, then struck out Scott Rolen. However, Jay Bruce singled through the gap into right field, and Cairo and Stubbs scored. Game tied, 3-3.
- The Reds worked out of a jam in the bottom of the ninth inning to force extras, and Jay Bruce immediately hit a home run off of Antonio Bastardo. The play was reviewed and upheld. Reds lead, 4-3.
- Since it was now a save situation, Francisco Cordero came in to pitch, and just as immediately gave up a home run to Ryan Howard. More extras. Game tied, 4-4.
- With one out in the eleventh inning, Kyle Kendrick hit Brandon Phillips with a pitch. J.C. Romero came in to pitch, and was very wild. He walked Joey Votto, but then was able to pick off Phillips who was too busy yapping with Jimmy Rollins to notice Wilson Valdez sneak in to catch him from the second base side. A real pity too, since Romero then walked Scott Rolen, and Jay Bruce, which would have forced in Phillips. Instead, Ramon Hernandez grounded out to the new pitcher David Herndon, and the inning was over.
- Valdez pitched the nineteenth inning for the Phils, after five standout scoreless innings from Danys Baez. The second baseman faced Joey Votto, who hit a promising drive, but ended up being caught on the warning track in center field. He lightly hit Scott Rolen, but then got Jay Bruce to fly out and Carlos Fisher to pop out.
- By the bottom of the nineteenth, Fisher was entering his sixth inning of work and was noticably tiring. Longmen Sam LeCure and Matt Maloney, though both used recently, were theoretically available to Dusty Baker, but the manager stuck with Fisher. Jimmy Rollins singled, and then Domonic Brown worked a walk. Placido Polanco laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, and Fisher intentionally walked Ryan Howard to set up the force outs. Raul Ibanez then flew out to center, but it was deep enough that Rollins could tag and score easily. Phillies win, 5-4.
Other Notes
- The Reds collected a more than respectable 11 hits off of Roy Halladay, but were only able to score three runs. They only had four more hits over the next twelve innings.
- Wilson Valdez was the first position player to earn a win since Brent Mayne did it for the Rockies on Aug. 22, 2000. Rocky Colavito was the only other position player to earn a win, when he did it in 1968.
- Also tonight, a game between Western Carolina and Elon went 20 innings.