Ryan Zimmerman Powers Washington Nationals to Win in 16-Inning Marathon

Jun 24, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Ryan Zimmerman (11) hits a 2-run homer in the 16th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Sixteen innings.

That’s how long it took the Washington Nationals to take care of the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. The game lasted five hours and 22 minutes.

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Each bullpen was stellar along the way, as the game entered extras tied at 2-2. The only runs scored came in the top of the 16th when Ryan Zimmerman blasted a two-run homer to give his team the advantage. But how did we get to that point? I’ll break it down in the coming paragraphs.

Jayson Werth got the scoring early. Denard Span and Anthony Rendon reached base in the top of the first off starter Yovani Gallardo. With Span on third, Werth grounded the ball to Milwaukee shortstop Jean Seguara. This plated the first run, as the Brewers opted for the out at first.

All was then quiet until the bottom of the fifth, as Gallardo and Jordan Zimmermann kept throwing up zeros on the scoreboard. The Brewers got to Zimmermann, who has been red-hot of late, in the frame. Ryan Braun singled to left field, bringing home Mark Reynolds and Segura, giving the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

With one out in the top of the eighth, the Nationals struck back. Will Smith had just taken the mound at the beginning of the frame, and after he got Span to ground out to second, he surrendered a game-tying big fly to Rendon. Rendon used his quick hands and silky swing to blast one to the second-base side of center field, just over the leaping try of Carlos Gomez.

Now this is where the fun began.

Aaron Barrett and Craig Stammen held the Brewers scoreless in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings. Ross Detwiler then came in and pitched scoreless innings in the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th. His performance is one of the most important from this game. Drew Storen tossed a scoreless 14th, and Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless 15th.

In the top of the 16th, with both teams just about ready to pack it up and go home, gave the people what they wanted. He took a pitch from Mike Fiers deep to center field and over the wall for his third big fly of the year. Adam LaRoche scored on the homer.

Rafael Soriano then pitched a perfect bottom-half of the 16th for the save.

It was a long, wild affair in Milwaukee on Tuesday night, and unfortunately, the schedule gives no favors. These two teams will play again on Wednesday at 2:10 p.m. ET. That’s only about a 12-hour break.

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