NEW YORK — Pinch-hitter Lane Thomas delivered a key double to lead off a six-run 12th inning and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the New York Yankees 9-5 on Tuesday night in the longest major league game this season.
Both teams started the evening in first place and the exciting start to their three-game series at Yankee Stadium gave the impression of a possible playoff preview.
Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit two home runs in a row in the first inning, but Cleveland came right back and after four innings the score was 3-3. Despite numerous chances on both sides, neither offensive team was able to score again until the 12th inning.
Thomas had a .113 batting average (6-for-53) in 16 games with the Guardians when he struck out to first for Bo Naylor in the 12th inning and hit a 2-2 sinker by left-hander Tim Mayza (0-2) into right field to bring home automatic runner Daniel Schneemann from second base.
Jose Ramirez drew an intentional walk in the 10th inning, followed by an RBI single by Michael Tonkin. After a walk to Tyler Freeman, David Fry hit a base-loaded triple to make it 8-3.
Guardians rookie Jhonkensy Noel hit an RBI infield single when Tonkin was too slow to cover first base.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase pitched two innings for the first time this season, knocking out Alex Verdugo with two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning. Tim Herrin (5-0) benefited from Schneemann’s diving catch in right field against Austin Wells and allowed two runs in the 11th inning.
Scott Barlow allowed Judge’s two-run double before ending a game that lasted 4 hours and 5 minutes – the longest in the major leagues this year.
Cleveland managed 14 walks for the first time since Sept. 9, 1979. The Guardians allowed 20 runs and made 7 of 24 runs with runners in scoring position after having six at-bats with runners in scoring position and getting swept in three games last weekend in Milwaukee.
New York used all eight of its relievers after rookie starter Luis Gil left in the fourth inning with back problems. The Yankees allowed 14 walks for the first time since Sept. 15, 1993, in Milwaukee, which was a team-record 15.
Soto and Judge hit back-to-back home runs off Matthew Boyd in the first inning. Anthony Volpe hit a double to tie the game in the fourth, but the Yankees went 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position and left 12 overall, losing for the third time in four games.
They fell half a game behind the Orioles at the top of the AL East. Baltimore beat the New York Mets across town at Citi Field.
Cleveland is trying to keep Kansas City and Minnesota at bay in the AL Central.
Gil allowed three runs and three hits in three innings, issuing six walks and throwing first-pitch strikes to just six of 19 batters.
TRAINING ROOM
Guardian: Manager Stephen Vogt hopes RHP Alex Cobb (broken nail) can return as soon as he is first eligible to play after being placed on the injured list on Monday.
Yankees: 3B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (sprained left elbow) caught grounders at third base for the second straight day. … RHP Ian Hamilton (right lat strain) threw all of his pitches at normal velocity in a 28-pitch simulated game and said he will begin rehab on Saturday. … 1B Anthony Rizzo (broken right forearm) struck out against Hamilton but is not ready to begin rehab. … RHP Cody Poteet (tricep strain) threw 34 pitches in two innings in his first rehab game at Double-A Somerset.
Next
Yankees LHP Nestor Cortes (6-10, 4.20 ERA) will try to win two consecutive starts for the first time in three months on Wednesday night. Cleveland has not yet announced whether rookie LHP Joey Cantillo (0-2, 6.23) will start or pitch in an opener.
