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| Gonzalez ends marathon vs. Reds with homer in 18th SAN DIEGO 12, CINCINNATI 9 (18 INNINGS) |
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By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Adrian Gonzalez hit a walk-off three-run home run in the 18th inning as the San Diego Padres salvaged a 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Scott Hairston earned a one-out walk against Edinson Volquez (7-2) and stole second before Brian Giles reached on an error and advanced Hairston to third. Gonzalez followed with by sending a 3-2 pitch from Volquez to center to help the Padres split the four-game set. "It's a long game, two games worth, but it was worth it to get the (win)," Gonzalez said. "The guys kept putting together good at-bats up there. It was a good team effort, and that's what this team needs in order for us to win. We need a full team effort." "I just got into a situation where I threw a pitch right down the middle," Volquez said. "I was ready to pitch. They didn't want to put me in the game, but I had two days (of rest). I was ready to go." Josh Banks (1-0) contributed five scoreless innings of relief to pick up his first major league victory in his second appearance with the Padres. "(Banks) came on the club this week, but what a great effort," Padres manager Bud Black said. "There were times where he had to make pitches and he did. You can't say enough. He showed a tremendous amount of heart and grit. It was great." Cincinnati used two of its starting pitchers, Aaron Harang and Volquez, in relief after going through all seven relievers. Harang entered the game in the 13th held San Diego scoreless for four innings including seven straight strikeouts. Bill Bray and Reds closer Francisco Cordero both suffered blown saves in the contest, and all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth. Scott Hairston tied it in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to send the game to extra innings. "As much as we will remember the 22-inning game (on April 17 against Colorado), the guys will remember this one, too," Black said. "This was a great win, a great win." Kevin Kouzmanoff's second homerun of the game knotted the score at 6-6 in the eighth. Kouzmanoff also belted a fourth-inning pitch from Reds starter Matt Belisle to collect the first multi-homer game of his career. San Diego whiffed 19 times in the game and a 58 times overall in the four-game series. Brandon Phillips and Dunn homered earlier in the contest for the Reds who have dropped 12 of their last 15 games away from home. "We had three times where we could've won the game, and three times they fought back," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We had a lot of chances. We were so close to just getting everything together and this game would've helped." |
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