NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Lane Thomas hit a game-winning double to open a six-run 12th inning, giving the Cleveland Guardians a 9-5 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night in the longest major league game this season.

“Sometimes that’s all it takes to get something like that going,” said the struggling Thomas, who scored his first run since July 28. “We left a couple of guys on the bench today and maybe saved it all for one inning.”

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.

“I think that was great for him,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s obviously a big blow for us. We left a couple of guys in scoring position tonight. That was just something we needed, and for him to come in, I know it’s going to be great for him. And it got this great inning rolling.”

Jose Ramírez, who was intentionally walked in the 10th inning, followed with an RBI single by Michael Tonkin. After a walk to Tyler Freeman, David Fry hit a base-loaded triple to make it 8-3.

“Really cool to see,” Fry said of Thomas’ game-winning swing. “I think we all thought he was going to make it. That’s all we need. We just need one to get everybody loosened up and get the rest of the big shots.”

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, retiring Alex Verdugo with two runs on base in the bottom of the 10th inning. Tim Herrin (5-0) took advantage of Schneemann’s diving catch in right field on Austin Wells’ drive and left two runners on the bench 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.

“What an incredible game from both of them,” said Vogt. “One team just had to hold on longer than the other and luckily that was us.”

New York used all eight of its relievers after Newcomer Luis Gil was eliminated in the fourth game due to back problems. The Yankees allowed 14 walks for the first time since allowing a team-record 15 in Milwaukee on September 15, 1993.

Soto and Judge hit back-to-back home runs against Matthew Boyd in the first inning. Anthony Volpe tied the game with a double in the fourth, but the Yankees completed 1 of 16 runs with runners in scoring position and allowed 12 runs overall, suffering their third straight loss.

“There have only been a couple of games where we’ve struggled offensively,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Juan and Aaron got us off to a really good start in the first inning, but we have to capitalize on those opportunities. That was the case this weekend (against Detroit) and we struggled in this game. We have to pull ourselves together.”

The Yankees fell half a game behind the Orioles at the top of the AL East. Baltimore defeated the New York Mets across town at Citi Field.

Cleveland extended its lead in the AL Central to 3 1/2 games ahead of Kansas City and Minnesota.

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

Guardians: 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.

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