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Valentin sparks Reds past Phillies

Jun 28, 2007 - 4:30 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Javier Valentin came through in the pinch and David Weathers closed the door, helping the Cincinnati Reds end a three-game losing skid with a 9-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on a balmy Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Valentin, who tied the game with a pinch-hit RBI single in the Reds' six-run, seventh inning, delivered a RBI double in the eighth off reliever Brian Sanchez (1-1) that scored Edwin Encarnacion to put Cincinnati ahead 7-6.

"Every win is big for us," Valentin said. "We have a tough situation right now. We need to come back and have a good winning streak. This win will hopefully be a start of that."

Adam Dunn gave Cincinnati some insurance in the ninth with a two-run shot to left field off of Jose Mesa to make it 9-6

Greg Dobbs, who entered in the fifth inning when Michael Bourn left the game with leg cramps, hit a two-out triple, his third hit of the game, in the eighth. Then the rain came and after a 42-minute delay, David Weathers stranded Dobbs by striking out Ryan Howard on a called third strike that appeared to be around the letters.

Weathers, who earned his 15th save of the season, had one of the longest saves of his career. The right-hander tossed two innings, with the rain delay thrown in, to mark the eighth time this season he has made a save by recording more than three outs.

"Not since I have been in the bullpen, did it a few times as a starter," Weathers said on pitching following a rain delay. "To me you have take yourself out of the clubhouse. I stayed in the dugout and kept my thoughts on Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, two pretty good players."

"He has had an outstanding first half," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "A lot of people talk about all-star candidates and if he does not make it something is wrong."

The loss spoiled a historic day for Howard. The reigning National League MVP crushed a three-run homer off starter Aaron Harang over the center field wall and into the Phillies Wall of Fame, to break a scoreless tie in the fifth inning.

"It was one of those feelings where you really don't feel that much off the bat," Howard said. "I hit it pretty good off the sweet spot and it just jumped. The one thing I remember was it was loud. I just saw the ball carry. I didn't know it was going to go that far. I figured I got enough."

Howard's blast, which measured at 505 feet, was the 100th of his career, making him the fastest player in major league history to reach that milestone. He surpassed Ralph Kiner (385 games), the previous fastest player to reach 100 homers, by 60 games.

"He has all the power in the world," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He definitely smoked that ball. The fact he has so many homers in that short period of time shows the kind of ability he has."

"This one is definitely up there," Howard said on where this accomplish stands for him. "It has to be. First hit, first home run, now 100th home run."

After pitching 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, Jamie Moyer allowed the first three Reds to reach base in the seventh. Geoff Geary relieved Moyer and was greeted by Alex Gonzalez, who blasted a two-run double off the right field wall.

Valentin then tied the game with a RBI single. After a Harang sacrifice bunt, Josh Hamilton, who broke up Moyer's no-hit bid the inning before, was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Brandon Phillips singled home Gonzalez to give the Reds the lead and Ken Griffey, Jr. followed with a two-run single off Mike Zagurski, the third Phillies pitcher of the inning, to make it 6-3.

"When you score six runs in an inning you are getting the lineup moving and you have to get some big hits," Narron said.

The Phillies answered back with three runs in their half of the seventh. Jimmy Rollins led off the inning with a single and Dobbs doubled down the right-field line, plating Rollins.

Chase Utley walked to make it first and third before Howard struck out for the first out of the inning. Dobbs scored on the second passed ball by Valentin, making it 6-5. Rowand then tied the game with a RBI single to center off reliever Marcus McBeth (2-1) scoring Utley. McBeth then retired Victorino and Ruiz to end the inning.

Harang, who came into the contest with a 3-0 record and a 1.85 ERA in his last six starts, had his string of quality starts end at six. After holding the Phillies in check through six innings, allowing only Howard's mammoth homer, he allowed two more earned runs in the seventh.

Harang allowed five earned runs on eight hits over seven-plus innings.

Moyer was masterful in his first appearance against the Reds in 16 years, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Hamilton stroked a single to center with two outs in the frame.

"Jamie is a pro, he knows what he is doing," Narron said. "I do not know it was a real hot night, I don't know if he ran out of gas or not. He is a guy who I enjoy watching pitch, because he pitches and has a feel for what he does."

The 92-degree heat finally wore down the 44-year-old hurler and he ended his night allowing three runs on three hits over six-plus innings while striking out a season-high eight batters.