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Jordan Zimmermann and Tim Hudson had two of the best pitching performances of the 2014 postseason so far, but the game ended long after they left the field.
Brandon Belt crushed a solo home run off Tanner Roark in the 18th inning to give the Giants a 2-1 victory over the Nationals in Game 2 of the NLDS at Nationals Park. The 18 innings tied for the longest game in postseason history, and the six hours and 23 minutes set a new time record.
San Francisco leads the best-of-five series 2-0.
Tim Hudson had a great start for the Giants, allowing only one run while pitching into the eighth. But it was another starter, Yusmeiro Petit, who helped the game get to the 18th inning, with seven strikeouts in six scoreless frames of relief. Petit picked up the win in his first postseason game ever.
Unfortunately for Hudson, Jordan Zimmermann was nearly flawless, if not traditionally overpowering. Coming off a no-hitter in Game 162, he was brilliant for 8⅔ innings on Saturday. Zimmermann struck out six and easily rolled through the lineup, including a stretch in which he retired 20 straight batters. A walk to rookie Joe Panik led manager Matt Williams to take him out with two outs in the ninth.
Panik ultimately scored when Pablo Sandoval doubled down the left-field line off of reliever Drew Storen. The run was attributed to Zimmermann, ending a 19-inning personal scoreless streak heading into the final frame.
Down 0-2 in the series, the Nats will turn to Doug Fister as they make the trip to the Bay Area for Game 3 on Monday. The will face Giants ace Madison Bumgarner at AT&T Park.
