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PHILADELPHIA(AP)
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 on Wednesday night.
Now Victorino has to wait until Thursday 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 on 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.''
Phillies manager
Charlie Manuel
, who will lead the NL All-Stars in the Midsummer Classic next week, is hoping Victorino joins him.
''I guess the Flyin' Hawaiian wants to go to the All-Star game,'' Manuel said. ''Let's see if he can play like that every
night. Nah, he got a big hit. Shane's a tremendous player. He has a lot of talent, a lot of ability. He has good numbers.''
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
.
Jayson Werth
hit a solo homer for the NL East-leading Phillies, who are 5-1 since losing 14 of 18.
Reliever
Ryan Madson
(3-4) tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win in his longest outing this season. The pitching-starved Phillies may have
lost another starter because
Rodrigo Lopez
left with right shoulder inflammation after five solid innings.
''I feel much better now,'' said Lopez, who isn't scheduled to pitch for almost two weeks because of the All-Star break. ''I
think I can pitch the 20th.''
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 pinch-hitter
Eric Bruntlett
flied to right,
Jimmy Rollins
walked. Victorino followed with a liner to left-center that scored Feliz.
''The guy is their hottest hitter right now. He's trying to make the All-Star team,'' Reds manager
Dusty Baker
said.
Reds starter
Homer Bailey
allowed two runs and seven hits, striking out a career-high six in six innings. It was his second straight fine effort that
resulted in a no-decision. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed three hits and two runs in a career-high 7 1-3 innings against
St. Louis last week.
Lopez gave up two runs and five hits in his second start since having elbow ligament replacement surgery in July 2007. He
was filling in for injured rookie
Antonio Bastardo
, who made five starts after
Brett Myers
was sidelined with a hip injury that required surgery.
The Phillies used seven starting pitchers last season when they won the World Series. They have already used nine in 82 games
this year.
Werth hit an opposite-field shot to right-center with two outs in the sixth to tie it at 2. Werth has gone deep in three straight
games and has six homers in the last 11. In his first season as a full-time starter, Werth has 19 homers. He hit a career-best
24 last year when he platooned with
Geoff Jenkins
for half the season.
The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on
Laynce Nix
's RBI single and a sacrifice fly by
Ramon Hernandez
.
Ryan Howard
's RBI single cut it to 2-1 in the bottom half.
NOTES: All-Star LF
Raul Ibanez
is scheduled for another rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday night after taking off Wednesday. Ibanez, out
with a groin injury since mid-June, could rejoin the Phillies on Friday. ... Reds 1B
Joey Votto
extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games.
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