Braves 4, Pirates 3 (19)
Pitcher Scott Proctor drove in Julio Lugo with a fielder's choice grounder in the bottom of the 19th inning to give the host Atlanta Braves a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night in a controversial finish.
It was the longest game by time - 6 hours, 39 minutes - in Braves and Pirates history, and the longest game by innings in Turner Field history. It also matched the longest game by innings in the majors this season.
With one out, Lugo broke from third on Proctor’s grounder to third baseman Pedro Alvarez, whose throw home arrived in plenty of time to retire Lugo. Replays appeared to show catcher Mike McKenry tagged Lugo on the leg well before he reached the plate. But home plate umpire Jerry Meals ruled Lugo safe, a call that surprised Lugo and caused Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle to rush the field and set off a heated argument.
Proctor (2-3) was the eighth pitcher used by Atlanta and pitched the final three innings as the Atlanta bullpen allowed six hits in 13 shutout innings.
Daniel McCutchen (3-2), Pittsburgh's seven pitcher, worked the final 5 1/3 innings. The teams combined for 608 pitches.
Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Neil Walker's RBI triple and Pedro Alvarez' run-scoring single in the first, and McKenry's solo homer in the second.
The Braves tied it in the third on Jason Heyward's two-run single, his first hit with the bases loaded this season. Dan Uggla's RBI single earlier in the inning made it 3-1.
Meals ejected Atlanta outfielder Nate McLouth and manager Fredi Gonzalez in the ninth for arguing a third-strike call.
Braves catcher Brian McCann left the game in the 10th inning when he strained his left oblique. He will be placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday.