Giants Win Longest Game in Postseason History

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Brandon Belt’s home run in the top of the 18th inning gave the San Francisco Giants a 3-2 lead, and eventual win, in the longest postseason game in Major League Baseball history on Saturday night. The victory also gave the Giants a 2-0 series lead over the Washington Nationals as the series now shifts to San Francisco.

Washington took a third inning lead on Anthony Rendon’s RBI single off Tim Hudson. That looked to be more than enough for Nationals starter Jordan Zimmerman, who pitched into the ninth inning without allowing a run. Zimmerman retired the first two batters in the top of the ninth but walked Joe Panik to put the tying run on base.

Manager Matt Williams went to his bullpen, calling on Drew Storen to close the door. Buster Posey would eventually single before Pablo Sandoval doubled in the tying run, forcing extra innings. Posey was tagged out at home on the play, preventing the Giants from taking the lead.

Both teams used a combined 17 pitchers over the next nine innings, before Belt’s homer against Tanner Roark opened up the top of the 18th. Hunter Strickland picked up the save, tossing a scoreless bottom of the 18th, while Yusmeiro Petit got the win going six shutout innings in relief.

The six hour and 23 minute affair surpassed a the 2005 NLDS Game 4 contest between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros for the longest in playoff history. Houston won that game, and swept the Braves, on a walk-off homer from Chris Burke in the bottom of the 18th inning.

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