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Valentin's winning single caps Harang gem for Reds
2007-07-24
Javier Valentin's bases-loaded single in the 12th inning lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 home victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, after Aaron Harang had pitched 10 masterful innings for the hosts. Harang, returning from his grandfather's funeral, allowed only Ryan Braun's fourth-inning homer in becoming the first National League pitcher in two years to go 10 innings. He struck out 10, walked none and gave up seven hits before leaving after the inning. "What a masterful job," Reds manager Pete Mackanin told reporters " "What a horse he is. He pitched great his last outing in Atlanta (on July 18 after hearing of his grandfather's death), and he pitched outstanding again today." Jared Burton, the third Cincinnati reliever, got the win after recording two outs in the 12th. Harang threw 121 pitches, 87 for strikes. "It felt really good," he said. "I felt like I could get ahead early and throw the pitches that I wanted to. I was throwing strikes and they were swinging -- swinging early too. "There was a lot of times where I threw two pitches to guys and got them out." He retired the Brewers in order in five of the innings. David Ross homered to lead off the Reds's third and Braun got the tying run with his home run in the fourth. Milwaukee's Grant Balfour walked the first two batters he faced in the 12th before Ross's bunt loaded the bases. That left it up to the pitch-hitting Valentin who singled to right to drive in Norris Hopper with the winning run. *Barry Bonds failed to hit a home run as John Smoltz (10-5) pitched the Atlanta Braves to a 4-2 win over the slugger's San Francisco Giants. Bonds, who is two shy of tying Hank Aaron's all-time home run record of 755, went 1-for-3 with an eighth-inning single. Brian McCann's three-run first-inning double keyed the Braves. *Chad Billingsley (7-0) pitched a five-hit complete game and the Los Angeles Dodgers crushed the Houston Astros 10-2. Jeff Kent had four of the Dodgers's 17 hits and drove in two runs.
Diamondbacks extend lead in NL West (2007-08-04)Bonds, A-Rod and Glavine aim for history (2007-07-31)Valentin's winning single caps Harang gem for Reds (2007-07-24)Cubs beat Rockies for sixth consecutive win (2007-06-28)Matsuzaka and Manny help Red Sox edge Giants (2007-06-17)
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