NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins engaged in an extended battle on Saturday night, culminating in a 9-7 victory for the Yankees.
This game lasted 3 hours and 49 minutes, marking the longest nine-inning game since the implementation of the pitch clock for the 2023 season, as reported by the Elias Sports Bureau.
The previous record for the longest nine-inning game under the pitch clock was 3 hours and 45 minutes, set during the Oakland Athletics’ 7-6 win over the New York Mets on August 15, 2024. The last time a nine-inning game exceeded this duration occurred on September 27, 2022, when the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles in a 13-9 contest lasting 3 hours and 57 minutes.
Game Details
In this matchup, both teams combined to throw 379 pitches among 13 different pitchers, with Marlins pitchers issuing 10 walks. This increased their total to 21 walks in the first two games of the series. The game also featured 21 runners left on base, including 12 by the Marlins.
Impact of the Pitch Clock
Since the pitch clock’s introduction, the average time for a nine-inning game has significantly decreased. It fell from 3 hours and 4 minutes in 2022 to 2 hours and 40 minutes in 2023, reaching its lowest point of 2 hours and 36 minutes in 2024, the shortest duration since 1984’s average of 2 hours and 35 minutes. However, in 2025, the average game time slightly increased to 2 hours and 38 minutes.
Historical Context
Prior to the pitch clock, the average game time exceeded 3 hours for the first time in 2016, peaking at a record 3 hours and 10 minutes in 2021. The introduction of the PitchCom electronic pitch-calling device contributed to a reduction in average game time, bringing it down to 3 hours and 4 minutes in 2022.