Best of MLB: Pirates top Nationals, 2-1, in 18 inning epic

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WASHINGTON -- Starling Marte hit a solo home run in the 18th inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Sunday in a marathon game that lasted almost six hours.

Pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy homered with two outs in the ninth inning for Washington, and it took a long while until anyone scored again.

Marte's seventh home run of the season helped end the series finale and the Pirates avoid getting swept by the NL East leaders. The only longer game in the majors this season came July 1 when Cleveland beat Toronto in 19 innings.

Marte made sure this wouldn't go 19 by taking the first pitch from Oliver Perez (2-3) and sending it into the seats in left field. Jonathon Niese (8-6) survived a couple of singles to get the victory.

It was the longest regular-season game since the Montreal Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals. The Nationals lost an 18-inning game to San Francisco in the 2014 playoffs.

Hamels dominates in first start at Wrigley Field since last year's no hitter
CHICAGO -- Cole Hamels pitched eight dominant innings in his first game at Wrigley Field since throwing a no-hitter at the famed ballpark a year ago, and the Texas Rangers stopped a four-game slide by topping the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Sunday.

Hamels (10-2) struck out his first six batters. He fanned seven overall and gave up just an unearned run on four hits.

Last summer, the lefty threw a no-hitter and struck out 13 at Wrigley in his final start for Philadelphia. He was then traded to the Rangers.

Sam Dyson struck out three in the ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.

Ian Desmond homered and Robinson Chirinos drove in two runs as Texas avoided a three-game sweep in the matchup of division leaders. The Cubs had won three in a row.

John Lackey (7-6) allowed four runs and six hits in eight innings as his winless streak reached seven starts (see full recap).

Ichiro now six hits away form 3,000 after Marlins' win over Cardinals
ST. LOUIS -- Ichiro Suzuki doubled, singled twice and had another hit taken away on a replay challenge, leaving him six shy of 3,000 in the Miami Marlins' 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

The 42-year-old Suzuki made just his second start this month with All-Star Marcell Ozuna getting a day off. He's been largely reduced to pinch hitting behind a set outfield, and singled in that role on Friday.

Suzuki also walked, scored a run and came up just short on his bid to beat out an infield hit. All of that in wilting, 93-degree heat for a player who'd been 3 for 11 in July.

Giancarlo Stanton's second double of the game drove in the go-ahead run in a two-run seventh against Jonathan Broxton (1-2). Christian Yelich had two hits and three RBIs as Miami took two of three for just its second series win the last seven years in St. Louis.

Kyle Barraclough (5-2) won in relief and A.J. Ramos earned his 29th save in 30 chances (see full recap).

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