CHICAGO (AP) — Starlin Castro drove in Aaron Hicks with a fielder’s choice in the 18th inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 early Monday morning in the majors’ longest interleague game ever by innings.
The teams combined for a major league-record 48 strikeouts in baseball’s longest game of the season by innings, wrapping up in 6 hours, 5 minutes.
Hicks struck out four times, but he came up with a huge play in the final inning. He led off with a bunt single against Pedro Strop (0-2) and advanced to second when catcher Willson Contreras threw it into right field for an error.
With one out and Hicks on third, Castro hit a bouncer up the middle. Shortstop Addison Russell tried to throw home, but it was wide and Hicks scored easily.
Chasen Shreve (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings, striking out pinch-hitting pitcher Kyle Hendricks with runners on first and second for the final out in New York’s fifth straight win. The Yankees (20-9) improved to 19-5 since they opened the season with four losses in five games. They also matched their high-water mark from last season at 11 games over. 500.
