210 000 000 100 000 000 1 - W: Valdez (1-0)
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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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Comments (49)
Like I said in the other column: This is why you watch baseball. I was just telling my kids about those 2 '93 games (20 innings versus the Dodgers and the Padres double header that ended at 4:40am) when Gelb noted the 23 inning minor league game.
Nice job by (going backwards) Valdez, Baez, Herndon, Kendrick and Madson and Stutes. Romero walking guys all over the place again but we get the win. I left Bastardo out too. He was a little off today but I'll take it. He's young. I'm really liking Stutes. I like his little tough guy look when he walks off the mound. Seems like he has a little Oswalt in him.
Get some sleep Murph!
— s- amazing how many goats and heros were in one baseball game, glad the Phillies finished this one with the win!!!— danielboyer
- Early in the game, the Phillies let Travis Wood off the hook a couple of times. Frustrating, because the way the Reds were hitting Halladay a 3-1 lead was not going to hold up. But, the Fighting Phillies lived up to their name again...when all these players contributed to a win in 19 innings. Not every player is playing great at the same time (impossible in the game of baseball)...but they fought through it. These kind of games can define a season. And, another in a long list of classic games we've been fortunate to watch the Phillies be a part of since the '70s.— road515
- Baez and Valdez are both better pitchers than Hammels.— FanSince09
- Hammels? Is that a new player?— PhillyPhan4for4
- I live in Barcelona and woke up this morning at 6am and as usual, checked the Phillies score. To my great surprise, I said, JESUS, they are tied at 4 in the bottom of the 16th. I quickly signed on to MLB.com, hooked my Macbook up to my TV (a pleasure I usually only have for day games) woke up my 9 month old son and watched the final 3 innings.
My wife is Spanish and she didn't understand why it was so strange to see Valdez pitching. I said "Imagine Leo Messi playing goalkeeper."— Crystal Ball 
Comment removed.- Currently the best soccer play in the world. His club team is FC Barcelona and national team is Argentina. He plays forward and winger. — Clt Philly Fan
- Just like Crystal Ball, I woke up this morning in Europe, at my home in Geneva. Expecting to see a box score, I found a game still in progress instead. I watched the final half inning on mlb.com and then celebrated all breakfast by listening to the post-game on the Big Talker. My Norwegian fiancée didn't quite understand the big deal either, but she was nice enough to join me at the table and listen together :-)— curtis
Nice to hear from Phans from Europe, spent 4 yrs in Italy myself in the Air Force, worked swing shift on the flight line for most of that tour. After midnight chow, I would get home and watch MNF at 3 am, when it used to start at 9 am here. Great to bring back some memories, thanks guys.- Best thing about last night is Dany Baez will be shutdown for a couple days— Kenny Junod.
- @curtis .......... I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!— shawnmac
- crystal ball and curtis, nicely done with the foreign ladies. spanish and norwegian, nice!— FunCakes
- Oh come on for Once Baez does a spectacular job and you can't lay off? This was a great team win. Valdez is now in Stairs territory I can't wait to see the T-shirts that are already being printed in his honor.— Phillyphan26
- "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
- In honor of his performance last night I will refrain from calling Danys Baez "denise" for 1 week.— 92gli
- Yeah, like many on this board, I think I'm cured of my Baez hating for a long while now. And even my Herndon hating will take a few weeks off...— Jamesallen
- Ballsy performance from Baez. Fantastic to watch. Spanish and Norwegian girlfriends? Are you trying to make all of us jealous?!?— sla6yer
- As I drove by Danys house on my way to work this morning I almost wanted to drop off a tray of pastelitos for his family.— phasor
- Glad to see Baez do well. Despite his problems, he belongs in Philly. He's a hard worker and really wants to do well.— PhillyRules
- Just like last year against Astros when Howard got thrown out in extra innings and Oswalt had to play left field. First hitter found Oswalt with fly ball. He caught it.
Chooch moves to 3rd base and first batter hits foul pop down line and Chooch did what Chooch does - hustled!
Valdez and Chooch get standing O - Rauuuul gets the winner!
Who will be in the starting line up today?— jmmjr49er - I think it's clear now: Baez is our 18th inning guy and Valdez is the man to call on in the 19th.
I felt good for Baez. He was actually pitching well in spring training and early in the year and was only recently when he seemed to revert back to true 2010 form. You can see it bothers the guy when he doesn't pitch well. This a boost he needed. Maybe it helps him be a solid role player for the rest of his year here.
I've always like Wilson's versatility. He is, I believe, also the emergency catcher. He's legend now. That was just great, great stuff to get to watch. I wish I could have been there.— s - JC Ramirez must go. And by go I mean far away from the Phillies bullpen.
— chben - It's actually JC Romero. JC Ramirez is a promising pitching prospect in the farm system.
They carry Romero mostly to have two left-handers. Bastardo is the obvious best lefty now but a lot of teams like to carry two. The Phillies only really Zagurski in AAA at this point as a possible lefty reliever. They weren't high on Romero after 2010 and only signed him after the Dennys Reyes deal fell through. Romero is not likely to be back next year (one year contract).— s - Murph I have a lot more respect for Baez after his work last night. As for Valdez.— paulNC
- I've ripped Baez as much as anyone in the past but I have to give big props to him for last night. Good job Mr Baez!!!— twpman
- I've severely underestimated Baez as a player. I admit it.— Claudio Vernight
- Fansince09 should change name to Fanbornyesterday— dinsdale
- An unbelievable and unforgettable game, which ended about 10:20 here in CA. Valdez, as I have posted before, has been called upon again and again these past two seasons and whether playing third, second and now PITCHING!, he has come through brillantly. And the work of the bullpen, especially Danny-Boy, was jaw-dropping. GO PHILS!— pajamas
- If you are going to play a 19 inning game, you really need to win knowing you set the bullpen back a couple of days. In most instances, a bullpen can be set back even longer, but not in this Phillies teams' case due to their starting pitching. Now let's win this series... Cliff "Complete Game" Lee is due for a gem.— Clt Philly Fan
- Honor goes to the maligned players that we and all posters have blasted for weeks: Baez, Herndon, Valdez, Raul, even Rollins. One worry we can see is JC. Hope he picks it up since other arms seem to be doing the job. Now get some runs for Cliff today.— Koons
- Watched all 19 innings; must give Baez his props he held the Reds in check longer than anyone would believe... great win last night and even better today; now on to the Mutts...— M60tanker
- Comment removed.
- Unreal job by Baez, and a great job done by Herndon-To come in and throw strikes and bail out Romero after he loaded the bases. Herndon fired that comebacker to Howard that was hit back at him like he was throwing a pitch to Ruiz. It about gave me a heart attack, when Howard snow coned it in his big mitt!— PhilliefaninAZ
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