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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, July 9, 2009

Phillies' Victorino hits walk-off single


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Philadelphia's All-Star hopeful Shane Victorino, center, celebrates with Jimmy Rollins after getting a walk-off hit against Cincinnati in the ninth.

H. RUMPH JR | Associated Press

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PHILADELPHIA — Shane Victorino did his best campaigning with his bat.

The center fielder's RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Philadelphia Phillies over the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, last night.

Now Victorino, a St. Anthony High alum from Maui, has to wait until today to find out if he made the NL All-Star team. Victorino is one of five candidates for the final roster spot determined through internet voting.

The Phillies have gone all-out to get Victorino selected. He went door-to-door in South Philadelphia with Mayor Michael A. Nutter to campaign for votes Monday. Three fans in their early 20s have been sitting in the press box lounge since Tuesday afternoon clicking nonstop on their computers for Victorino. Fans in the ballpark and people listening to the game on radio or watching on television have constantly been reminded to "Vote for Shane."

"It's been a lot of fun," Victorino said. "It got a little exhausting the first day. I said, 'Let's do what I got to do on the field,' and we'll see what happens."

Even if Victorino doesn't get picked by the fans, he still has a chance to go as an injury replacement for Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran.

Pedro Feliz led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off David Weathers (1-2). After Paul Bako popped up a bunt and Eric Bruntlett flied to right, Jimmy Rollins walked. Victorino followed with a liner to left-center that scored Feliz.

ROCKIES 10, NATIONALS 4:

Jorge De La Rosa pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Ryan Spilborghs hit a three-run triple to key a four-run fifth and host Colorado beat Washington to complete a three-game sweep. De La Rosa (6-7) gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings. Troy Tulowitzki had a two-run homer among his three hits for Colorado.

DIAMONDBACKS 6, PADRES 2:

Felipe Lopez hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run rally in the eighth, Max Scherzer pitched seven sharp innings and host Arizona won its season-high fifth straight. Lopez's shot came after pinch-hitter Alex Romero gave the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead with an RBI single.

METS 5, DODGERS 4:

Oliver Perez won despite a wild return from the disabled list and host New York overcame Manny Ramirez's homer. Perez (2-2) walked a season-high seven in five innings, then left with a 5-2 lead. Ramirez hit a leadoff shot to right in the ninth off Francisco Rodriguez, making it 5-4.

ASTROS 5, PIRATES 0:

Wandy Rodriguez pitched a five-hitter for host Houston and tied his career high by striking out 11. Rodriguez (8-6) is only one victory behind his total from last season. Lance Berkman doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs for Houston.

BREWERS 5, CARDINALS 4:

Prince Fielder drove in the go-ahead run for host Milwaukee with his two-out, eighth-inning infield single. Fielder hit a slow grounder off Dennys Reyes to shortstop Brendan Ryan with the bases loaded and Ryan's off-balance throw to first wasn't in time.

BRAVES 4, CUBS 1:

Kenshin Kawakami pitched six effective innings and Casey Kotchman homered for visiting Atlanta. Kawakami (5-6) allowed one run on four hits, walked two and struck out two to earn his second victory since May 23.

MARLINS 7, GIANTS 0:

Chris Volstad pitched a five-hitter for his first career complete game, Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer and host Florida beat San Francisco. Volstad (6-8) struck out six and didn't walk a batter.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANGERS 8, ANGELS 1:

Andruw Jones hit three home runs in his first three at-bats and visiting Texas beat Los Angeles. The Rangers got to Ervin Santana (1-5) early, with Jones hitting home runs off him in the first and third, the latter giving Texas a 4-0 lead. Jones added a solo shot in the fifth off Rich Thompson. Jones popped out in the sixth against Kevin Jepsen and struck out against Jason Bulger in the ninth.

ORIOLES 5, MARINERS 3:

Baltimore took advantage of two errors by second baseman Jose Lopez to rally for five runs in the ninth inning against host Seattle. Entering the ninth with a 3-0 lead, closer David Aardsma (2-3) blew just his second save in 19 chances. Ty Wigginton's two-run single put Baltimore ahead 4-3.

RED SOX 5, ATHLETICS 4:

First-time All-Star Tim Wakefield earned his AL-leading 11th victory, and David Ortiz homered and drove in four runs for host Boston. Wakefield (11-3) left in the seventh in his final scheduled start before the break. He gave up three earned runs and 10 hits.

RAYS 10, BLUE JAYS 9:

All-Star Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer in the fourth and had an RBI single in the ninth for host Tampa Bay. His winning hit off Scott Downs with two outs drove in Carl Crawford, who singled off Jason Frasor (5-2) before stealing second and third.

TIGERS 3, ROYALS 1:

Detroit rookie Lucas French, making his second major-league start, outdueled Zack Greinke. French (1-0) held the visiting Royals to one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Greinke (10-5) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings.

YANKEES 4, TWINS 3:

A.J. Burnett won his third straight start, and Brett Gardner's two-run single helped visiting New York build an early lead. Burnett (8-4) walked four, gave up seven hits and got the first out of the seventh inning before leaving.

WHITE SOX 5, INDIANS 1:

Jose Contreras allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings and Jermaine Dye had three RBIs for host Chicago. Contreras (4-7) allowed six hits, walked one and struck out nine.