Controversial Call Gives Braves 4-3 Win In 19th Inning
ATLANTA (KDKA/AP) – The Atlanta Braves have long been a sore topic of discussion for fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
However, the end to Tuesday's 4-3 loss in 19 innings has only added fuel to the fire.
Julio Lugo walked with one out in the bottom of the 19th inning to get things going for the Braves. Jordan Schafer followed with a single that advanced Lugo to third base.
Scott Proctor stepped up to the plate and chopped a grounder to third baseman Pedro Alvarez, who came home with the throw.
The throw beat Lugo to the plate by several feet and Michael McKenry appeared to tag him prior to crossing the plate.
Home plate umpire Jerry Meals disagreed and deemed McKenry missed the tag and called Lugo safe to end the game.
"I saw the tag, but he looked like he oléd him, and I called him safe for that. I looked at the replays and it appeared he might have got him on the shin area. I'm guessing he might have got him, but when I was out there when it happened, I didn't see a tag. I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn't see the glove hit his leg," Meals said.
- Click here to watch the replay of the controversial play.
- View more photos from the Pirates' series in Atlanta
Clint Hurdle came out to argue the call to no avail. The loss dropped the Pirates back to third in the NL Central after the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals both won Tuesday.
Jeff Karstens (8-5, 2.41 ERA) started the game for the Pirates and allowed three runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out three in five innings.
Daniel McCutchen (3-2, 2.21 ERA) was charged with the loss after allowing the controversial run in the 19th inning. He scattered three hits over 5 1-3 innings, while walking four and striking out three.
For Atlanta, Tommy Hanson (11-5, 3.13 ERA) allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out six in six innings of work.
Proctor(2-3, 6.48 ERA) got the win and only allowed one hit in three innings of relief.
The Pirates jumped out to an early lead, but the Braves were able to pull even in the third inning.
Neil Walker's RBI triple in the first inning opened the scoring for the Pirates. Two batters later, Alvarez brought Walker home with an RBI single to right field.
McKenry extended the lead to 3-0 in the second inning with a solo home run to left field.
Dan Uggla's two-RBI single in the bottom of the third cut the lead to 3-2. Jason Heyward would tie the game two batters later with a bases loaded single to center field.
The Pirates threatened in the 17th and 18th innings, but stranded runners on second and third on both occasions.
The game, which ended at 1:50 a.m., was the longest in Turner
Field history and matched the longest in the major leagues this
season. At 6 hours, 39 minutes, it was the longest by time for both
teams.
The teams will be back in action Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m.
Paul Maholm (6-10, 3.26 ERA) is scheduled to take on Jair Jurrjens (12-3, 2.44 ERA).
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