Guardians outlast Yankees 9-5 in 12 innings to win longest MLB game this season

NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Lane Thomas delivered a tiebreaking double to spark a six-run 12th inning, and the Cleveland Guardians outlasted the New York Yankees 9-5 on Tuesday night in the longest major league game this season.

“Sometimes that’s all it takes to get something going like that,” said the slumping Thomas, who drove in his first run since July 28. “We left some guys on in the game today and maybe just saved it all for one inning.”

Both teams began the night in first place, and the tense opener of their three-game series at Yankee Stadium had the feel of a potential playoff preview.

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back homers in the first, but Cleveland came right back and the game was tied at 3 after four innings. Despite numerous chances on both sides, neither offense managed to score again until the 12th.