The Washington Nationals played an 18-inning marathon against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, marking the franchise’s longest regular-season game since 1989, back when the team was still known as the Montreal Expos, per ESPN Stats & Info.
With right-handed ace Max Scherzer taking the hill at home against Pirates rookie Chad Kuhl, it appeared the Nationals would have a significant advantage in Sunday’s contest as they tried to complete a three-game sweep coming out of the All-Star break.
However, Kuhl had different plans entirely, striking out five batters and allowing just one hit over six scoreless innings, eventually exiting with a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI double from outfielder Starling Marte in the top of the sixth.
Scherzer otherwise held the Pirates scoreless over his seven frames, as he struck out seven batters while allowing six hits, a walk and the one run.
Despite the excellent outing, Scherzer was in line to take his seventh loss of the season until Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy came through in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-out, pinch-hit solo home run off Pirates closer Mark Melancon, who blew a save for just the second time in 29 tries this season.
Following eight scoreless innings that took a heavy toll on both teams’ bullpens, Marte came up big for the Pirates once again, launching a solo home run in the top of the 18th off Nationals reliever Oliver Perez.
The Nationals did manage a pair of singles in the bottom of the inning, but Jon Niese then struck out infielder Danny Espinosa to end the rally and finish out a 2-1 victory.
Though Sunday’s game was the Nationals’ lengthiest regular-season affair since the franchise’s Montreal days, the team did play an 18-inning classic in the 2014 National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants, per ESPN Stats & Info.
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