Murphy forces extras, but Marte gives Pirates 2-1 win in 18

In the longest regular season game by innings in Nationals history, left fielder Starling Marte launched a two-out pitch from Nats reliever Oliver Perez in the 18th over the left field wall to give the Pirates a marathon 2-1 victory on Sunday.

In the bottom of the 18th, Wilson Ramos singled with one out against Jonathan Niese. But Clint Robinson was called out on a questionable third strike, Stephen Drew singled to left and Danny Espinosa struck out to end the game.

The game lasted 5 hours, 48 minutes. The longest game by time this season for the Nats was the 16-inning marathon against the Twins on April 24 that lasted 5 hours, 56 minutes. The Nats won that game 6-5.

With today's game tied at 1-1 in the 16th inning, the Pirates had a very good chance to go ahead. With two men out and a man on, Josh Harrison doubled deep to center. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor relayed to shortstop Espinosa, who threw to Ramos. The catcher tagged Eric Fryer out at the plate to end the inning.

The Nats would not have had a chance in extra innings if it wasn't for Daniel Murphy.

Manager Dusty Baker decided to rest Murphy, who missed the two previous games with a left hamstring injury, one more day and not place him in the starting lineup Sunday. Baker said Saturday that Murphy would be available to pinch-hit.

On Sunday, with his team down 1-0, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Baker called on Murphy.

Continuing to swing one of the hottest bats in the majors, Murphy cranked a 2-2 pinch-hit solo homer off of Pirates closer Mark Melancon to force extra innings. It was Murphy's 18th homer of the season and the fourth pinch-hit homer of his career.

Earlier, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer pitched well against right-hander Chad Kuhl.

Scherzer went seven innings and allowed only one run.

Kuhl, 23, from the University of Delaware, arrived with a 6.08 ERA and tossed six shutout innings.

The Pirates used a pair of doubles in the sixth to get on the board. An RBI double by Marte plated Adam Frazier.

The Nationals had very few opportunities before Murphy's heroics.

Jayson Werth singled with one out in the seventh. Bryce Harper followed with a clean single to left. But a Ramos liner was right to second baseman Josh Harrison, who caught the ball and stepped on second to double up Werth.