NLDS: Dodgers Even Up Series with Cards, Giants and Nats Go 18 Innings

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Dodgers have knotted their NL Division Series at a game apiece despite blowing a two-run lead.

Matt Kemp belted a tiebreaking homer in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Dodgers past St. Louis 3-2. Kemp's blast came a half-inning after Matt Carpenter knotted the score with a two-run shot.

The Dodgers went up 2-0 in the third on Dee Gordon's run-scoring grounder and a run-scoring single by Adrian Gonzalez. Zack Greinke protected that lead by holding the Cardinals to two hits and two walks while striking out seven in seven shutout innings. But Greinke had to settle for a no-decision after J.P. Howell surrendered Carpenter's round-tripper.

Carpenter already has two home runs and six RBIs in the series for the Cardinals, who host Game 3 on Monday.

Giants 2  Nationals 1 in 18  Innings

WASHINGTON (AP) - The San Francisco Giants have stretched their postseason winning streak to nine games. It took 18 innings, nearly 6  1/2 hours and one huge homer.

Brandon Belt launched a tiebreaking, solo shot in the 18th inning before Hunter Strickland recorded the last three outs in the Giants' 2-1 win over the Nationals in Washington. The Giants have a 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series following a game that lasted a playoff-record 6:23 and tied for the most innings ever in a postseason contest.

The marathon was almost avoided by both teams. Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann gave up just three hits over 8 2/3 innings. He retired 20 straight batters and enjoyed a 1-0 lead before issuing a two-out walk to Joe Panik in the ninth, prompting manager Matt Williams to lift Zimmermann. Drew Storen came on and quickly gave up a single to Buster Posey before Pablo Sandoval laced a game-tying double. Posey almost scored on Sandoval's hit, but he was tagged out by catcher Wilson Ramos  to end the inning and create a marathon.

The Giants' bullpen was outstanding, allowing just two hits in 10 2/3 innings. The bulk of that work was performed by winning pitcher Yusmeiro Petit , who limited the Nationals to one hit while striking out seven in six innings.

Tanner Roark served up Belt's tiebreaking homer and took the loss, allowing just that one hit in two innings.

The Giants will look to sweep the Nats Monday in San Francisco.

BASEBALL PLAYOFFS -Sunday
AL Division Series
Baltimore at Detroit, 2:45 p.m.
Los Angeles at Kansas City, 6:37 p.m.
NFL Sunday
Kansas City at San Francisco, pregame on KHMO at 2 p.m.
Cleveland at Tennessee, noon
Tampa Bay at New Orleans, noon
Houston at Dallas, noon.
Chicago at Carolina, noon
St. Louis at Philadelphia, noon
Atlanta at N.Y. Giants, noon
Buffalo at Detroit, noon
Baltimore at Indianapolis, noon
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville, noon
Arizona at Denver, 3:05 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at San Diego, 3:25 p.m.
Cincinnati at New England, 7:30 p.m.