Ryan Zimmerman's two-run home run in the 16th inning lifted the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Zimmerman hit a 2-0 pitch off Mike Fiers (0-1) over the wall in left field to score Adam LaRoche for the Nationals fourth consecutive win.
The game was the longest in innings in Nationals history, and many fans took to social media to let the team know they were sticking it out with them. Soon, #latenightnats was trending in Washington.
Going to the 16th inning #LateNightNats — Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) June 25, 2014
With one out in the 16th, LaRoche hit a sharp single that bounced off the wall in right field. Zimmerman then hit his third home run of the year to give the Nationals the lead in a game that took 5 hours, 22 minutes.
The Brewers threatened in the 13th, 14th and 15th innings, but couldn't score. Lyle Overbay was stranded on third base in the 13th when Carlos Gomez hit a soft liner to shortstop to end the inning.
In the 14th, Denard Span kept the Nationals alive with a leaping catch at the wall to rob Elian Herrera of an extra-base hit that likely would have scored Khris Davis from first and won the game for Milwaukee.
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I can’t anymore. Goodnight! #LateNightNats — Javon Parris (@jeaparris) June 25, 2014
Gomez popped out to end the 15th with Scooter Gennnett on second.
Nationals manager Matt Williams intentionally walked Jonathan Lucroy in both the 13th and 15th innings to face Gomez, and the move worked both times to end threats.
"He's one of the best hitters in the league,'' Williams said of Lucroy. "It's an opportunity to potentially get around him. We had to pick our poison there.''
Washington had a chance to score in the 14th, putting runners on first and second with one out. Fiers got Danny Espinosa, who is 5 for 57 with runners in scoring position, to fly out and Jose Lobaton grounded out to end the inning.
The Nationals were down to their final five outs when Anthony Rendon hit his 12th homer of the year, a solo shot, to right-center off Will Smith with one out in the eighth to tie the score at 2.
Watched the longest game in Nats history from wire to wire. I'll be expecting my certificate in the mail. #LateNightNats — Matt Doyon (@TheDoyonian) June 25, 2014
That's when the bullpens took over. Neither team could get a runner in scoring position after Rendon's homer until the Brewers fruitless rally in the 13th.
The Brewers, who came into the series second in the NL in runs, lost 3-0 on Monday night.
Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo allowed one run, four hits and two walks with five strikeouts, leaving after throwing 104 pitches in six innings. In his last four starts, he is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA.
Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann pitched six innings, allowing two runs, six hits and two walks while striking out nine. In his last three starts, he is 0-2 with a no-decision despite having a 2.14 ERA in those games.
