The game, which ended at 1:50 a.m., was the longest in Turner Field history and matched the longest in the major leagues this season. At 6 hours, 39 minutes, it was the longest by time for both teams.
Lugo took off on Scott Proctor’s grounder to third baseman Pedro Alvarez , whose throw to catcher Michael McKenry easily beat Lugo to the plate.
Lugo tried to avoid McKenry’s tag with a pop-up slide. Replays indicated McKenry made the tag, but home plate umpire Jerry Meals called Lugo safe.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle argued the call vigorously, following Meals off the field as the Braves celebrated.
PhIn Philadelphia, rookie right-hander Vance Worley threw a three-hitter and Chase Utley hit an inside-the-park homer to lead Philadelphia to a victory over San Francisco.
Worley (7-1) had five strikeouts and one walk, and has allowed two earned runs or less in 11 of his 13 career starts. It was Worley’s fifth straight win.
Ryan Howard , John Mayberry Jr. and Raul Ibanez also homered for the Phillies.
Aaron Rowand of the Giants homered against his former team.
In Cincinnati, Jason Pridie put New York ahead with a two-run double, and the Mets took advantage of one of Cincinnati’s worst defensive performances of the season.
The Mets scored six unearned runs off Johnny Cueto (6-4) with the help of three errors, matching the Reds’ high for a game.
Jonathon Niese (10-8) went five innings for the win.
David Wright continued his hitting surge since returning from a stress fracture in his lower back.
In Washington, Greg Dobbs drove in a career-high five runs, including a solo homer, and Logan Morrison and John Buck both homered to lead Florida.
Dobbs drove in Florida’s first run in the first on a groundout. He added another run-scoring single in the seventh and drove in two more on a single a five-run ninth inning.
It was the second time this year the Marlins have scored at least 10 runs. Florida beat the Cubs 13-3 on July 16.
In Milwaukee, Ryan Braun doubled in a run, Casey McGehee added a two-run triple and Milwaukee’s bullpen tossed four scoreless innings.
Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who saw their season-best three-game winning streak snapped.
Chris Narveson (7-6) went five innings but needed reliever Kameron Loe to bail him out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. John Axford tied a franchise mark with his 25th consecutive save.
In St. Louis, Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the first inning for St. Louis and Jake Westbrook made it hold up with six innings of one-run ball.
Pujols hit the first pitch he saw from Brett Myers (3-11) on a line to left-center field. The ball appeared to hit the top of the wall, but was ruled a home run by third base umpire Mike DiMuro. Houston center fielder Michael Bourn and left fielder Carlos Lee rushed in to dispute the call, which was subsequently reviewed by replay and upheld for Pujols’ 23rd homer.
David Freese homered for the Cardinals, who have won five of six.
In San Diego, Joe Saunders came within one out of a shutout and Justin Upton and Kelly Johnson drove in two runs each for Arizona.
Saunders (7-8) had two outs in the ninth when he surrendered a homer to Jesus Guzman. The right-hander allowed six hits, struck out four and walked two.
Upton hit a solo homer and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. In his last seven games, Upton is 15 for 26 with three homers and 13 RBIs.
Johnson had three hits, including an RBI triple, and Willie Bloomquist had three hits with two runs scored.
Dustin Moseley (3-10) allowed five runs and seven hits over seven innings.
In Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw outpitched Jhoulys Chacin with 6 2-3 gritty innings to win his fourth straight start and Matt Kemp drove in two runs in Los Angeles’ fourth consecutive victory.
Kershaw (12-4) threw a career-high 125 pitches, allowing two runs and eight hits and striking out six. The left-hander is 7-0 with a 1.65 ERA in his last 10 starts at Dodger Stadium, where he hasn’t lost since April 16.
Kershaw increased his major league-leading strikeout total to 173.
Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his second save in three attempts.
