210 000 000 100 000 000 1 - W: Valdez (1-0)
You can watch a lot of baseball and not see a series of events like those that occurred in the early morning hours of May 26.
210 000 000 100 000 000 1 - W: Valdez (1-0)
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
You can watch a lot of baseball and not see a series of events like those that occurred in the early morning hours of May 26.
By the time it was over - 19 innings covering 6 hours and 11 minutes - a back-up infielder who had never thrown a major league pitch had one more win than 2010 NL Cy Young contender Ubaldo Jimenez.
Wilson Valdez pitched a scoreless 19th inning -- retiring Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, to boot -- before watching Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez combine to drive home the game winner.
Your final:
Phillies 5, Reds 4
As amusing as Valdez's pitching performance was, the story of the night was one of the gutsiest pitching performance you will see. The last time Danys Baez threw as many as 58 pitches in a game, he was a 20-something-year-old rookie fresh out of Cuba. Last night, as a 33-year-old veteran, he threw 74. Baez pitched five scoreless innings, lowering his ERA from 4.19 to 3.33 in the process.
He was the last line of defense between the bullpen and a pitching cameo by Valdez, and he came through in a huge way.
Those who watch Baez operate behind scenes know that his performance last night was the epitome of who he is: a true professional, determined beyond all imagination, tough as sandpaper, and willing to do anything to contribute to a victory. Since signing with the Phillies two years ago, he hasn't done much on the field. But in the bullpen and in the clubhouse he has emerged as a strong veteran presence, particularly with injuries to Brad Lidge and Jose Contreras.
Last week, as Ryan Madson struggled with his command while warming in the bullpen, Baez shouted out some mechanical flaws he noticed. Madson went on to record the save. Whether it is working with and translating for Contreras or counseling the club's younger pitchers, Baez had evolved into a respected leader.
Last night the Phillies needed him on the mound. He gave them more than they ever could have expected.
In Philadelphia, it is the moments that define you. Maybe it is like that everywhere. But I know Philly. And in Philly, it is the moments that matter: the aging, veteran slugger swinging from his stirrups and crushing a go-ahead home run in the National League Championship Series; the square-nosed center fielder sprinting face first into an outfield fence in order to catch a fly ball; the all-world first baseman signing that contract and giving relevance to a long-suffering franchise.
Last night was Danys Baez's moment. He may never fulfill the expectations the Phillies had for him when they brought him aboard. He may never strike out a batter in the late innings of a tight game. But he can never be accused of not trying his damnedest.
Last night, his damnedest happened to be enough.
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"FanSince09"??? Unless that fan is about 9 years old or younger, that's a lame thing to advertise!— frankenslade- I'm guessing his post was some well disguised sarcasm. Fansince09, trashing then misspelling Hamels, actually pretty clever! — sla6yer
- As a genuine Baez hater, I take a step forward this AM and salute his gutsy performance. NOT SO....Wheels who continues to amaze us all with his ramblings. Hey Murph, can you address this situation ?— NewMick314
- Listen to a Marlins or White Sox broadcast before complaining about Wheels. Suddenly, he won't be so bad.— Armyofthe15Monkies
- Not a Baez fan but give the man his props.Great job. Romero needs to go, though. Re: announcers, I have the MLB package and usually have to watch the opposing team feed. Using that reference, Phils announcers are pretty good.— PhillyfaninMD
- I am not a fan of McCarthy's mistakes, but just listening to the Reds' announcers is miserable. They said about 5 times in Tuesday night's game that the Reds' pitchers were the ones allowing Raul Ibanez to get out of his slump. They did not do a lick of due diligence on the opposing team to realize that for the previous 23 days (entire month of May) Ibanez has hit over .300... far from a slump. What do these announcers do all day before games? — Clt Philly Fan
- valdez was obviously incredible. just the fact that he was able to throw strikes. seemed like he had a natural downward break on his fastball. I wonder who taught him the grip. post game he mentioned he knew he was going in a long time before he did. great job by charlie. but baez, that many pitches, and pitching as effectively as he did. herndon as well. great to see them contribute. I am no longer a baez hater. he took one for the team today.— notch44
- just like crystal ball and curtis, i was thrilled to wake up this morning in europe and catch a great game still in progress. i tend to cringe when baez steps up to the mound, especially with a marginal lead to preserve but he sure gave it his all this morning... can't say enough about that... nice work by valdez, for a split-second i thought votto had clobbered that pitch, though... go phils!— philly2cz
- "He may never strike out a batter in the late innings of a tight game."
This was a strange sentence, since he struck out a few batters in the (very) late innnings of a tied game just this morning!— Phils Phan 28 - You don't want to overstate it but these are the kinds of games, and wins, that...— eman
- Dont ask them to lay off. Thats their reason for existing. Stutes, Herndon and Baez BRAVO! As for Romero control issues make him lost cause, J. C. has had control issues since he entered BB. Charlie brought him in with bases loaded a while back, predictable results. When he came in last night I said J.C. will walk first batter. I didn't figure he will walk 3. The thing is none of these pitches were CLOSE!. Amaro should make a run at AL Fuentes. Fuentes is under performing and is reportedly in a contentious relation with mgt. He can pitch and migt be undervalued now. He would change a bullpen from good to very good if he returns to form. I know its a n if. If not bring up Zagurskie he will be better than J C. Remember Fl, and Atlanta will be tough. Madson and Bastardo have been excellent, Stutes is a keeper......Whats the biggest surprise for Phills in 2011 Madson's excellence not to me I allways figured he was capable of this. Emergence of Bastardo no if you followed him in minors. Phills in first dispite terriblr terrible hitting er possibly. For me its the fielding of Howard. Ryan has been great at balls in dirt . Saved many errors. He has shown soft hands in field. I just wish he was driving ball to left center as he was previous and do a little better on offerings off the plate. That was a monster HR. J.Roll good game at ss The missed opportunities was discouraging.— Don w
- @Junod....You are a Stunod— Tozmanian
- Murph is great at analysis. Try doing a study of counts, ball/strike ratio/batters faced per number of outs etc on JC. He is a mess !— NewMick314
- Romero was the worst of the relievers last night but then he gets his little piece of history with that pickoff. — s
- They should consider releasing or getting Romero through waivers to AAA when they activate Contreras. I get that they want 2 lefties in the bullpen, but if you can't count on a guy to throw strikes he's worthless. JC looks totally lost, he's falling away so much and his pitches are consistently away to lefthanded hitters. Maybe they could straighten him out in the minors (just maybe he slightly injured himself last night? wink wink.)— Phils Phan 28
