ATLANTA -- Julio Lugo said he was safe, and after 19 innings and almost 7 hours, he wasn't sticking around for extended conversation on the subject.

Lugo scored from third base on a contested play at the plate, giving the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 win in 19 innings over the Pittsburgh Pirates early Wednesday morning.

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 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.

"I didn't feel the tag," Lugo said. "He made the right call. I got in there."

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle argued the call vigorously, following Meals off the field as the Braves celebrated.

"I saw the tag, but he looked like he oled him and I called him safe for that," Meals said. "I looked at the replays and it appeared he might have got him on the shin area. I'm guessing he might have got him, but when I was out there when it happened I didn't see a tag.

"I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn't see the glove hit his leg."

The Pirates were looking at a photo of the tag on a laptop computer in their clubhouse after the game.

"The game tonight deserved way better than that," Hurdle said.

With one out in the 19th, Daniel McCutchen walked Lugo. Jordan Schafer followed with a single to center, moving Lugo to third.

With their bench and bullpen depleted, the Braves had to let Proctor (2-3), their eighth pitcher of the game, hit for himself. Schafer advanced to second without a throw before Proctor's grounder led to the final play.

Proctor tripped trying to leave the batter's box, and McCutchen tried to encourage McKenry to throw to first for a possible double play.

Then McCutchen realized Lugo was called safe.

"Can I say that he was out? Is that legal?" McCutchen asked, adding he saw the tag.

"I didn't know what everyone was screaming about," he said.

Despite the controversial ending, McCutchen said it was a special game.