Guardians beat Yankees with 12 innings. 2024’s longest match

Invigorated by a six-run 12thinning that saw the Cleveland Guardians outlasted the New York Yankees 9-5 on Tuesday night in the longest game in major league play this season. It was a game which had the look and feel of an American League playoff preview.

Aug 21, 2024, 12:25 AM ET

NEW York — Pinch hitter Lane Thomas delivered an unavoidable double to ignite an inning that was six runs long and Cleveland Guardians Cleveland Guardians outlasted the New York Yankees 9-5 on Tuesday night in the longest game in major league play this season.

Both teams entered the evening in the top spot and the tense first game of their three-game series played at Yankee Stadium had the feel of a playoff preview.

“What an unbelievable game by both teams,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt stated. “Someone had to outlast the other, and fortunately, it was us.”

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit two consecutive homers in the opening game, but Cleveland returned and the score was three-way after four innings. Despite many opportunities for both teams the offense was unable to score in the 11th.

Thomas was batting .113 (6-for-53) over 16 matches for the Guardians when he batted with Bo Naylor in the 12th. He put a 2-2 sinker by left-handed Tim Mayza (0-2) into right field to score automatic runner Daniel Schneemann from the second.

“It was huge for him, obviously, it was a huge hit for us,” Vogt told reporters. “It was just something that we needed, and for him to come through, I know that’s going to be big for him. And it catapulted that huge inning.”

Jose Ramirez, intentionally was walked in the 10th inning, and was followed by an RBI single by Michael Tonkin. After the walk of Tyler Freeman, David Fry laced the bases loaded triple, making 8-3.

Guardians first-year Jhonkensy Noel added an RBI infield single after Tonkin was slow to reach the first base.

Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase pitched two innings for the first time in this season, and he dismissed Alex Verdugo after two innings to close the 10th. Tim Herrin (5-0) was helped by the leaping catch of Schneemann in right field Austin Wells and left two runners during the eleventh.

“Where we were at the time, we wanted to stop the game,” Vogt stated of calling Clase.

Scott Barlow allowed Judge’s double-run home run before ending the game, which lasted four hours and 5 minutes.

Cleveland was able to draw 14 walks for the first time since Sept. 9 1979. The Guardians lost 20 players and were 7-for-24 with runners scoring after registering six at-bats while having runners scoring being swept in three games against Milwaukee this past weekend.

New York used all eight of its relievers following rookie pitcher Luis Gil exited in the fourth inning due to tightness in the back. The Yankees gave up fourteen walk for the first time in a row since they allowed the record-setting 15 walks in Milwaukee on September. 15 in 1993.

Soto And Judge scored consecutive homers against Matthew Boyd in the first. Anthony Volpe hit a tie-breaking double in the fourth however, the Yankees only scored one run with runners scoring and were left with 12 on the scoreboard after losing to the Red Sox for the third time over the span of four games.

“Obviously, with their pen, they can roll out a few really good arms,” New York manager Aaron Boone said of the Guardians. “But for us, it’s been a few games now, where we’ve struggled a bit offensively.”

Gil pitched three hits and three runs in three and a half innings. Gil walked six times and pitched first-pitch strikes to only six of 19 batters on a night when his offense was struggling.

“The offense has been in a really good place for a while,” Boone declared. “But it’s been a few games now where we’ve struggled in those spots. … It’s just a little slow patch, and we’ve got to get it going offensively.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.