Phillies-Reds game one for the ages: A fan’s reaction

The game wasn't about the struggling Phillies offense. It wasn't about starting pitching. It was simply about watching a baseball game where neither team wanted to lose. After 19 innings of baseball that saw both teams exhaust their entire rosters, the Phillies got the 5-4 win.

As a Phillies fan, I am glad I stayed up to watch the whole game. It truly was a night for history.
Wilson Valdez(notes) picked up the victory for the Phillies. He is now forever linked to Babe Ruth. Valdez became the first player since Ruth in 1921 to start a game in the field and later earn the win in relief. Valdez pitched the top of the 19th and retired the meat of the Cincinnati batting order. He was throwing solid heat, and it was enough to give the Phillies the chance to win in the bottom of the 19th. They did just that when Raul Ibanez(notes) hit a sacrifice fly that scored Jimmy Rollins(notes). The Phillies and their fans celebrated like they just clinched the division.
This was a game that all Phillies fans will remember. They will remember Ryan Howard's(notes) tying home run in the bottom of the 10th. They will remember that the much-maligned Danys Baez(notes) threw five strong innings of relief. Most of all, they will remember that Valdez took the hill in the 19th inning and picked up the win.
A game like this is what makes baseball so great. The offensive questions can be answered another day. For now, Phillies fans should just enjoy a memorable game. Most Phillies fans remember the epic doubleheader against the San Diego Padres that went to almost 5 in the morning. This game belongs right up there with that. It was great to see so many fans still at the stadium, and so many fans calling in to the radio station today talking about how they stayed up to watch.
This is the sort of game that makes everyone forget about the business of baseball. Instead, they just think about the game.