Reds rookie Wood 'nearly perfect' - but Phillies win

Cincinnati rookie pitcher Travis Wood took a perfect game into the ninth inning before giving up a double to Carlos Ruiz on Saturday, but Philadelphia beat the Reds 1-0 in 11 innings.

Wood, making just his third major league baseball start, dominated Philadelphia's injury-depleted lineup, dueling with Phillies ace Roy Halladay - who threw the 20th perfect game in major league history on May 29 in Florida.

Wood gave up a leadoff double to Ruiz in the ninth, and the Phillies went on to triumph when Jimmy Rollins singled in the only run of the game in the 11th.

Wood, 23, was vying for the third perfect game in the major leagues this year. Oakland's Dallas Braden pitched a perfect game against Tampa Bay on May 9 before Halladay tossed his gem.

The only other time there have been two perfect games in one season was in 1880.

In a season of dominant pitching, Detroit right-hander Armando Galarraga was also denied a pefect game because of a missed call at first base by umpire Jim Joyce.

Ruiz opened the ninth with a drive to deep center field. Wood stayed on the mound and worked out of the jam.

Pinch-hitter Wilson Valdez fouled out trying to bunt, pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez flied out and Rollins fouled out to send the scoreless game to extra innings.

Left-hander Wood, who struck out eight and walked none while throwing 74 of 109 pitches for strikes, was relieved by Nick Masset in the 10th.

With one out in the 11th, Ruiz hit another double, this one off Bill Bray. Valdez was intentionally walked and pinch-hitter Ross Gload flied out before Rollins singled off Logan Ondrusek to score Ruiz.

"We battled, it just wasn't our night tonight," Wood said. "We're putting together good ballgames, we're just coming up a little bit short."