Phillies Beat Reds 3-2 as Victorino Pushes for Final Vote
July 9, 2009 by kevin mcguire
Filed under Fan News
Yesterday, Shane Victorino put an end to his off-the-field campaigning for the final roster spot ion the National League for the All Star Game. Instead, he is focusing all of his energy on the field.
Last night he did everything he could to help the Phillies win, including his game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth to give the Phillies a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Victorino put on a show for manager Charlie Manuel last night to show why he should be heading to St. Louis next week. The Flyin’ Hawaiian was one of two Phillies with a multiple hit night (Greg Dobbs the other) and a pair of stolen bases. He also scored one run and notched one run batted in, the game winner.
Should Victorino not win the MLB Final Vote for the National League, Manuel could still pick Victorino as a replacement player. Yesterday, it was made official that the Mets’ Carlos Beltran will not participate in the game. Beltran was voted the starter in the fan vote, but his injured knee will keep him out of the midsummer classic.
The Phillies also got another good start from Rodrigo Lopez, but his night was cut short after five innings. Lopez allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, striking out four and walking one, but inflammation in his right shoulder forced the starter out of the game in his second appearance this season.
After the game Lopez claimed he felt some tightness but believed he could be ready for his next scheduled start, which would not be until July 20.
Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, and Ryan Madson got the job done out of the bullpen, pitching a combined four innings of one hit ball, giving the Phillies a chance to come back to tie the game, and eventually win it. Madson pitched the eighth and ninth innings to pick up the win.
The Reds jumped out to a 2-0 lead but the Phillies tied it up at two with a solo home run from Jayson Werth in the sixth inning. For Werth it was his third home run in three games this series, and each has gone to right center field.
The four-game series concludes tonight, as Jamie Moyer takes the mound for the Phillies. He will be opposed by Micah Owings.