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.
Thomas was hitting .113 (6 for 53) in 16 games with the Guardians when he batted for Bo Naylor leading off the 12th and lined a 2-2 sinker from left-hander Tim Mayza (0-2) into right field to score automatic runner Daniel Schneemann from second. “I think it was huge for him,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said.
“Obviously, it’s a huge hit for us. We left a couple of people in scoring position tonight. It was just something that we needed and for him to come though, I know that’s going to be big for him.
And it catapulted that huge inning.” Jose Ramírez, intentionally walked in the 10th, followed with an RBI single off Michael .