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Twins Go 16 Innings Before Falling To Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) — In between their 20 strikeouts, the Minnesota Twins made enough solid contact to put themselves in position to win.

Unfortunately for them, after 16 innings and nearly six hours, the Twins ended up with yet another defeat in this infuriating season.

Minnesota lost two late leads before the Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep with a 6-5 victory Sunday.

"To not be able to come out on top is frustrating," said Michael Tonkin, who yielded the game-ending home run to Chris Heisey in the 16th. "It is pretty clear we think we could have won."

After Brian Dozier hit a three-run homer off Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg for a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning, the Twins' bullpen gave away the lead.

A two-run single by Wilson Ramos got Washington to 4-3, and Bryce Harper hit a pinch-hit home in the ninth off Kevin Jepsen to tie it.

Minnesota took the lead in the on an RBI single by Miguel Sano in the 15th, but the Nationals came back again.

Danny Espinosa drew a two-out walk and stole second. With no one else left to hit, Oliver Perez (1-0) batted for the first time since 2010 and bunted down the third base line. Catcher John Ryan Murphy picked up the ball but threw it wildly past first, allowing Espinosa to score.

Heisey homered off Tonkin (1-1) one inning later to end it.

The Twins struck out 18 times in Saturday's loss, and in this one they fanned 20 times — including four apiece by Miguel Sano, Eduardo Rosario and Byron Buxton.

"You try to find positives," manager Paul Molitor said. "We have to regroup and put this game behind us. It is horrible stretch."

At 5 hours, 56 minutes, it was the longest regular-season game in Nationals' history. By far one of the wildest, too.

"We've seen thousands of games. They always say, go to the ballpark and you may see something you haven't seen before," Washington manager Dusty Baker said. "Well this, I certainly haven't seen anything like this. This was crazy."

Harper was supposed to have a day off, but stepped up to lead off the ninth connected on a 3-2 pitch for the first pinch-hit homer of his career.

"(Baker) came up to me at the beginning of the game and said, if we have an opportunity to pinch hit you, if you can hit a homer, that would be great," Harper said.

Matt den Dekker also homered for the Nationals, who stranded 14 and went 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position.

Strasburg retired 15 out of 16 batters until pinch-hitter Joe Mauer singled with one out in the eighth. After Eduardo Nunez beat out a high chopper, Dozier homered deep into the left-field seats on Strasburg's 114th and final pitch.

Strasburg struck out 10, walked none and allowed seven hits over 7 1-3 innings. It was his 23rd career outing with at least 10 strikeouts.

Minnesota starter Tyler Duffey left in the fifth inning after being struck in the upper right arm by a line drive off the bat of den Dekker.

Duffey was summoned from the minors to pitch for Ervin Santana, who was scratched with a sore lower back. The right-hander allowed one run — a leadoff home by den Dekker — and five hits.

LEADOFF MEN

Twins: Nunez shined in his eighth start atop the batting order, contributing four hits and an RBI.

Nationals: Den Dekker hit his first career leadoff homer and added an infield hit.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: Molitor said Santana would need a bullpen session before hopefully returning to the starting rotation in about a week. "I'm not going to rush it," Molitor said.

Nationals: RHP Joe Ross will miss his scheduled start Tuesday because of a blister on his right middle finger. Ross did, however, get a pinch-hit single in the 10th inning.

UP NEXT

Twins: LHP Tommy Milone (0-1, 5.97 ERA) starts Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Cleveland Indians.

Nationals: After taking Monday off, Washington starts a three-game series against Philadelphia at home on Tuesday night. The rotation: Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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