Padres go the distance, again -18 innings May 25, 2008

Monday, May 26, 2008
Game of the day: Padres 12, Reds 9
Padres go the distance, again
Gonzalez hits three-run homer in 18th to lift San Diego in its fourth game this year of at least 13.
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- After a brutal stretch of injuries and poor play, the San Diego Padres finally had something to celebrate.

Of course, the Padres being the Padres, even this didn't come easy.

The lights were on and the sun was going down when Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 18th inning to give San Diego a 12-9 win over the Cincinnati 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.

"It was a good team effort. It was done by everybody and that's what this team needs in order for us to win," Gonzalez said. "After a game this long and especially after the Colorado game, you want to win this game and get something going."

The Padres get Memorial Day off, and they were certainly in a party mood.

"It was a great clubhouse scene after the game," 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."

The game lasted 5 hours, 57 minutes. It tied for the third-longest by innings in Reds history.

The victory came after a week in which the Padres lost three key players: reigning Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, right-hander Chris Young and catcher Josh Bard.

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 one 17-inning.

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. Gonzalez then hit a full-count changeup over the fence in center for his 14th homer.

Josh Banks (1-0) scattered five hits over six innings for his first big league win.

bullpen blew a would-be Maddux win

Why can't the Tigers play 18 or 22 innings this season at Comerica Park.

That would rock!


I think they played 16 or 17 there once! I think the game that Roger Clemens tried to get his 300th win, ending up going 17. Tigers lost like 9-8 or something

I love extra inning games

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