Victorino’s single in 9th lifts Phillies
July 9, 2009
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Shane Victorino(notes) did his best campaigning with his bat.
The center fielder’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning lifted thePhiladelphia Phillies over the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Now Victorino has to wait until Thursday to find out if he made the NLAll-Star team. Victorino is one of five candidates for the final roster spotdetermined through internet voting.
The Phillies have gone all-out to get Victorino selected. He wentdoor-to-door in South Philadelphia with Mayor Michael A. Nutter to campaign forvotes on Monday. Three fans in their early 20s have been sitting in the pressbox lounge since Tuesday afternoon clicking nonstop on their computers forVictorino. Fans in the ballpark and people listening to the game on radio orwatching on television have constantly been reminded to “Vote for Shane.”
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Victorino said. “It got a little exhausting thefirst day. I said, ‘Let’s do what I got to do on the field,’ and we’ll see whathappens.”
Series at a Glance Cincinnati 1 Philadelphia 22 Mon, Jul 6 – Final Cincinnati 4 Philadelphia 3 Tue, Jul 7 – Final Cincinnati 2 Philadelphia 3 Wed, Jul 8 – Final Cincinnati at Philadelphia Thu, Jul 9 – 7:05 pm ET
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will lead the NL All-Stars in theMidsummer Classic next week, is hoping Victorino joins him.
“I guess the Flyin’ Hawaiian wants to go to the All-Star game,” Manuelsaid. “Let’s see if he can play like that every night. Nah, he got a big hit.Shane’s a tremendous player. He has a lot of talent, a lot of ability. He hasgood numbers.”
Even if Victorino doesn’t get picked by the fans, he still has a chance togo as an injury replacement for Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran(notes).
Jayson Werth(notes) hit a solo homer for the NL East-leading Phillies, who are 5-1since losing 14 of 18.
Reliever Ryan Madson(notes) (3-4) tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win inhis longest outing this season. The pitching-starved Phillies may have lostanother starter because Rodrigo Lopez(notes) left with right shoulder inflammationafter five solid innings.
“I feel much better now,” said Lopez, who isn’t scheduled to pitch foralmost two weeks because of the All-Star break. “I think I can pitch the20th.”
Pedro Feliz(notes) led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off David Weathers(notes)(1-2). After Paul Bako(notes) popped up a bunt and pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett(notes) flied toright, Jimmy Rollins(notes) walked. Victorino followed with a liner to left-center thatscored Feliz.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitch… AP – Jul 8, 11:12 pm EDT
“The guy is their hottest hitter right now. He’s trying to make theAll-Star team,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said.
Reds starter Homer Bailey(notes) allowed two runs and seven hits, striking out acareer-high six in six innings. It was his second straight fine effort thatresulted in a no-decision. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed three hits andtwo runs in a career-high 7 1-3 innings against St. Louis last week.
Lopez gave up two runs and five hits in his second start since having elbowligament replacement surgery in July 2007. He was filling in for injured rookieAntonio Bastardo(notes), who made five starts after Brett Myers(notes) was sidelined with ahip injury that required surgery.
The Phillies used seven starting pitchers last season when they won theWorld Series. They have already used nine in 82 games this year.
Werth hit an opposite-field shot to right-center with two outs in the sixthto tie it at 2. Werth has gone deep in three straight games and has six homersin the last 11. In his first season as a full-time starter, Werth has 19 homers.He hit a career-best 24 last year when he platooned with Geoff Jenkins(notes) for halfthe season.
The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Laynce Nix’s(notes) RBI single and asacrifice fly by Ramon Hernandez(notes).
Ryan Howard’s(notes) RBI single cut it to 2-1 in the bottom half.
NOTES: All-Star LF Raul Ibanez(notes) is scheduled for another rehab start withTriple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday night after taking off Wednesday. Ibanez, outwith a groin injury since mid-June, could rejoin the Phillies on Friday. …Reds 1B Joey Votto(notes) extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games.
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