This was one crazy game. The way it concluded may accept been added so.
Long afterwards both starters larboard the game, the Braves appropriate 19 innings to exhausted the Pirates 4-3.
For the seventh time in their aftermost eight games, the Braves accustomed a aboriginal inning run. Xavier Paul singled arch off the bold adjoin Tommy Hanson and denticulate on Neil Walker's triple. Walker afterwards denticulate on a distinct by Pedro Alvarez. One inning later, Michael McKenry hit his additional home run of the division for a 3-0 Pirates lead.
The Braves were able to action back, however, adjoin Pittsburgh amateur Jeff Karstens in the third inning. He recorded two quick outs, but three beeline hits including Dan Uggla's RBI distinct put the Braves on the board. Following a walk, Jason Heyward's distinct angry the bold 3-3. Uggla's distinct continued his hitting band to 17 games.
Hanson aside the Pittsburgh breach afterwards that. He accustomed seven hits in six innings and addled out six. Karstens exited afterwards alone bristles innings and 96 pitches.
Then the battle of the bullpens took over. The three-headed monster of Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel did its job, each of them striking out two. In the bottom of the ninth, Nate McLouth became fed up with the low strike calls of umpire Jerry Meals and got himself ejected along with Fredi Gonzalez.
Once 10 innings had passed, it became the Cristhian Martinez show. For six innings, Martinez allowed only two hits and struck out six. Unfortunately for him, his offense couldn't get him his first win of the year. Braves hitters put at least two runners on in each of Martinez's first three innings, but failed to push across a run.
Scott Proctor entered in the 17th inning and wasn't nearly as effective as Martinez, but managed to work around three walks, two of them intentional, and keep the Pirates off the scoreboard into the 19th.
The Braves went to bat in the bottom of the 19th hoping to end the long, drawn-out contest. Julio Lugo walked with one out against reliever Daniel McCutchen, who was working on his sixth inning of work. Jordan Schafer followed with a single to send Lugo to third, then it was time for Proctor himself to hit. On a two-strike pitch, Proctor hit a ground ball to the third baseman Alvarez. The throw to the plate easily beat Lugo, but he was amazingly called safe. The Pirates dugout was furious, but the call stood and the Braves walked off winners.
The win was bittersweet for the Braves because Brian McCann strained a left oblique muscle trying to throw out Neil Walker stealing in the 10th. He will be placed on the 15-day DL.
Once 10 innings had passed, it became the Cristhian Martinez show. For six innings, Martinez allowed only two hits and struck out six. Unfortunately for him, his offense couldn't get him his first win of the year. Braves hitters put at least two runners on in each of Martinez's first three innings, but failed to push across a run.
Scott Proctor entered in the 17th inning and wasn't nearly as effective as Martinez, but managed to work around three walks, two of them intentional, and keep the Pirates off the scoreboard into the 19th.
The Braves went to bat in the bottom of the 19th hoping to end the long, drawn-out contest. Julio Lugo walked with one out against reliever Daniel McCutchen, who was working on his sixth inning of work. Jordan Schafer followed with a single to send Lugo to third, then it was time for Proctor himself to hit. On a two-strike pitch, Proctor hit a ground ball to the third baseman Alvarez. The throw to the plate easily beat Lugo, but he was amazingly called safe. The Pirates dugout was furious, but the call stood and the Braves walked off winners.
The win was bittersweet for the Braves because Brian McCann strained a left oblique muscle trying to throw out Neil Walker stealing in the 10th. He will be placed on the 15-day DL.