The Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants knew they were going to play two games. As for Cincinnati and San Diego, their “doubleheader” was unexpected.
The lights were on and the sun was going down when Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 18th inning to give San Diego a 12-9 win over the Reds on Sunday in a matchup of last-place teams.
It was the fourth time the Padres played at least 13 innings this season. They played a 22-innning game at home against Colorado on April 17-18, losing 2-1. The last team to play a game of at least 22 and 17 innings in the same season was the 1989 Los Angeles Dodgers, who played two 22-inning games and a 17-inning game.
“It was a great clubhouse scene after the game,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “As much as we’ll remember, long-term, the 22-inning game, the guys will remember this one, too. This was a great win.”
San Francisco and Florida played a more conventional doubleheader after Saturday’s game was postponed by rain, and Dan Uggla led the Marlins to a satisfying sweep.
Uggla hit a bases-loaded, two-out single in the ninth inning to give Florida a 5-4 victory in the nightcap. He also hit one of four homers by the NL East leaders during their 8-6 win over the visiting Giants in the opener.
“These moments come few and far between. Anytime you can do something like that to help your team win, it’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Uggla said. “It’s nice to get a hit and get that guy in and send us off on the road.”
The Marlins departed afterward for a 10-game road trip, starting at the New York Mets on Monday.
“I’m extremely tired,” Uggla said. “I’ll probably be asleep before the plane takes off.”
In other NL games, it was: Colorado 4, New York 1; Arizona 9, Atlanta 3; Pittsburgh 6, Chicago 5 in 11 innings; Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 3 in 10 innings; Philadelphia 15, Houston 6; and Washington 7, Milwaukee 6.
San Francisco’s Omar Vizquel played his 2,584th game at shortstop, breaking the major league record previously held by fellow Venezuelan Luis Aparicio. Vizquel tied the record in the opener and received a standing ovation from the Marlins crowd when it became official after the fifth inning of the second game.
Tyler Walker (2-3) gave up a double to Wes Helms to open the ninth inning of the nightcap, then gave way to Brian Wilson, who issued consecutive two-out walks. Uggla hit a sharp grounder up the middle to win it.
“Any situation, any pitcher, any count, he is the guy you want at the plate right now,” Helms said. “He’s about as locked-in as I’ve ever seen him.”
Kevin Gregg (4-2) got the win after earning his 10th save in the first game.
Jorge Cantu hit a solo homer in each game and finished the day with four RBIs for Florida. Jeremy Hermida and Cantu hit back-to-back shots in the opener, and Cody Ross also connected as the Marlins snapped San Francisco’s three-game winning streak.
Uggla’s two-run homer in the fifth was his 12th this month and it gave Florida a 7-5 lead. Mark Hendrickson (7-2) got through five shaky innings to win for the seventh time in his last nine starts.
Pat Misch (0-1) remained winless in 25 major league appearances, including nine starts.
At San Diego, Scott Hairston started the winning rally with a one-out walk off Edinson Volquez (7-2), the second starting pitcher the Reds put on the mound in extra innings.
Brian Giles reached on first baseman Joey Votto’s two-out throwing error, moving Hairston to third. Gonzalez then hit a full-count pitch over the fence in straightaway center field for his 14th homer.
“It was a good team effort,” Gonzalez said. “After a game this long and especially after the Colorado game, you want to win this game and get something going.”
The game lasted 5 hours, 57 minutes. It was the third-longest game in Reds history.
Long after San Diego starter Greg Maddux was gone, Josh Banks (1-0) scattered five hits over six innings for the win.
Cincinnati went ahead three times in the late innings. The Padres tied it each time, twice on homers.
“Three times we could have won the game and three times they fought back,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “You hate to see Edinson lose that game on an unearned run when we were out of the inning.”
Rockies 4, Mets 1
At Denver, Mets manager Willie Randolph didn’t get the pick-me-up he needed when New York lost to the Colorado Rockies, whose patchwork lineup included four recent call-ups.
One of them, Seth Smith, hit his first major league homer, a three-run shot off John Maine (5-4) to back an impressive start by Aaron Cook (7-3). He allowed four hits, all singles, in his seventh career complete game and first since July 25.
Awaiting the embattled Randolph back home Monday is a meeting with ownership amid speculation that his job is in jeopardy. The Mets (23-25) have lost six of seven.
Phillies 15, Astros 6
At Houston, Chase Utley and Shane Victorino each had three RBIs for the Phillies, who finished with 16 hits. Utley hit a two-run homer to cap a six-run seventh.
Pirates 6, Cubs 5, 11 innings
At Pittsburgh, Jason Bay beat Chicago with an extra-inning single for the second day in the row, after the Pirates tied it when left fielder Alfonso Soriano lost a ninth-inning fly ball in the sun and dropped it.
Diamondbacks 9, Braves 3
At Atlanta, Eric Byrnes hit his first career grand slam to chase Tom Glavine (2-2) in the fifth and back Micah Owings (6-2). It was only the second slam allowed by Glavine in his 22 major league seasons. Atlanta pitchers issued a season-high 11 walks.
Nationals 7, Brewers 6
At Washington, Elijah Dukes scored the winning run on a ninth-inning wild pitch by Guillermo Mota (1-3). Aaron Boone homered for the Nationals, who squandered a 6-0 lead. Jon Rauch (3-1) pitched a perfect ninth.
Dodgers 4, Cardinals 3, 10 innings
At Los Angeles, Andre Ethier singled home the winning run and Luis Maza hit his first big league homer.
Russell Martin drove in two runs and touted prospect Clayton Kershaw pitched six effective innings for the Dodgers in his major league debut, striking out seven. Takashi Saito (3-1) got the win.
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