In 2022, the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners were locked in a scoreless battle for 18 innings until Houston’s Jeremy Peña hit a home run that broke the interminable deadlock in the 18th lifting the Astros to a 1-0 victory and closing out their American League Division Series, 3-0.
In Game 3 of the AL Division Series at T-Mobile Park, the Astros secured their sixth consecutive American League Championship Series berth. This epic contest lasted a remarkable six hours and 22 minutes, spanning 18 innings.
Marathon game sets two records
Last year’s game hit the record books twice- one for the longest scoreless playoff game in MLB history and another for tying the longest game in the postseason. The matchup is level with three other games that lasted 18 innings.
Related: When was the last time the Yankees missed the playoffs?
Three other 18-inning matches
The Astros are no stranger to extremely lengthy matches. Another one of their contests that took 18 innings to complete was held in 2005 against the Atlanta Braves. The Astros wrapped up the series with a 7-6 win, which they secured via a walk-off home run by Chris Burke.
Another game that is tied for the longest in terms of innings was between the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals in the second game of the 2014 National League Division Series. A solo shot from Brandon Belt sent the Giants to a 2-1 win on the road which eventually led to winning the World Series trophy.
Longest MLB game in terms of time
Game 3, 2018 World Series: Dodgers 3, Red Sox 2 -- 18 innings
The last match in this four-way tie is also the longest In terms of time. It took place in 2018 when the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in 18 innings.
That epic match- the only victory for the Dodgers in the series- took seven hours and 20 minutes to complete. The two teams also set the postseason record for most combined pitchers (18) and players (46) in a game.
FAQs
In the longest postseason game, in terms of time, in MLB history (seven hours, 20 minutes), the Dodgers beat the Red Sox on a Muncy walk-off home run in the 18th inning to cut their Series deficit to 2-1. The two clubs combined to use 18 pitchers and 46 players overall in the contest, both postseason records.
What was the longest MLB playoff game? ›
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. The longest postseason game by innings in MLB history is 18 innings, which has happened four times, all 4 of which being decided on a solo home run hit in the 18th inning by the winning team.
What was the longest baseball game in MLB history? ›
Longest Games in MLB History
- No. 1: 26 innings: Brooklyn Robins v. Boston Braves (1920)
- No. 2 (tie): 25 innings: Chicago White Sox v. Milwaukee Brewers (1984)
- No. 2 (tie): 25 innings: St. Louis Cardinals v. New York Mets (1974)
- No. 4 (tie): 24 innings: Houston Astros v. New York Mets (1968)
The longest game ever played in the World Series lasted 18 innings and ran for seven hours and 20 minutes, with only a final score of 3-2.
What was the last extra inning game in the World Series? ›
2022 — Houston Astros 6, Philadelphia Phillies 5, 10 innings, Game 1. 2018 — Los Angeles Dodgers 3, Boston 2, 18 innings, Game 3. 2017 — Houston 13, Los Angeles Dodgers 12, 10 innings, Game 5.
What's the longest an MLB game has gone without a run? ›
The Mets, it seems, have a penchant for playing in historically long games. Six years before they played 25 innings in Flushing, they played 24 against the Astros in Houston. Incredibly, the game was scoreless until the bottom of the 24th, the longest any Major League game has ever stayed scoreless.
What is the highest scoring MLB game? ›
The highest scoring Major League Baseball game in history, the 1922 Cubs-Phillies matchup, stands as a testament to the unpredictability and excitement that defines the sport. With the combined total of 49 runs, this epic showdown continues to capture the imagination of baseball enthusiasts worldwide.
How long was the shortest MLB game ever? ›
No matter how many rules Major League Baseball adds to speed up play, it is safe to say that no two teams will ever be able to beat the record for the fastest nine-inning game in big-league history: 51 minutes.
What current MLB team has never won a World Series? ›
The Seattle Mariners are the only MLB franchise that has never appeared in a World Series; the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and Colorado Rockies have all played in the Series but have never won it.
Can MLB games end in a tie? ›
A tie is a baseball game that ends with both teams having scored the same number of runs. In normal play, ties should not occur in baseball, as the rules state that extra innings are played until one of the two teams wins the game. So, ties can only be the result of special circ*mstances.
What was the longest playoff game ever played? ›
In the longest postseason game, in terms of time, in MLB history (seven hours, 20 minutes), the Dodgers beat the Red Sox on a Muncy walk-off home run in the 18th inning to cut their Series deficit to 2-1.
How long was the longest baseball game? ›
The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings, two teams from the Triple-A International League, played the longest game in professional baseball history over three days in 1981. The game lasted 33 innings, with 8 hours and 25 minutes of playing time.
Has there ever been a tie in baseball? ›
The last time an MLB game ended in a tie was back in 2016 when the Pirates and Cubs had to abandon their contest after severe weather conditions hindered play. Indeed, we have to go back quite a few decades to a time before stadiums were equipped with lights to find an era when ties were common.
What MLB team has the longest playoff streak? ›
1. Atlanta Braves, 14 (1991-2005)
How long was the Mariners Astros game? ›
8 wild facts about the 18-inning Game 3 nail-biter
Before Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Saturday, it had been 21 years since the Mariners last hosted a playoff game.
What was the longest Mariner game? ›
The 5-hour, 34-minute, 19-inning marathon marks the longest home game by innings in club history. It was the longest extra-inning home game by minutes in club history until the Mariners faced the Orioles for 5 hours and 44 minutes on September 18, 2012.
How long is an Astros game? ›
Most games are in about the 2.5 to 3 hour range. Of course if there are extra innings, rain delays or a lot of relief pitchers, the games can be much longer. That said, feel free to see a game in the afternoon and schedule a play at night. You are not a captive audience and can leave the game whenever you want.
