Yankees-Marlins Game Sets Pitch Clock Era Record

The 9-inning matchup took nearly 4 hours to complete, the longest in the new MLB rule era.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:19pm

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The New York Yankees defeated the Miami Marlins 9-7 on Saturday night in a game that lasted 3 hours and 49 minutes, the longest 9-inning contest since MLB implemented its new pitch clock rule prior to the 2023 season.

Why it matters

The pitch clock was introduced to speed up the pace of play, but this marathon game between the Yankees and Marlins shows that even with the new rule, lengthy extra-inning affairs and pitching changes can still lead to bloated game times that test the patience of fans.

The details

Despite the pitch clock, which requires pitchers to deliver the ball within 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on, the Yankees and Marlins combined for 15 pitching changes and numerous mound visits that contributed to the lengthy duration. The game featured 16 total runs scored, 21 hits, and 13 walks.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 5, 2026.

The players

New York Yankees

A professional baseball team based in the Bronx borough of New York City, part of Major League Baseball's American League East division.

Miami Marlins

A professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, part of Major League Baseball's National League East division.

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What they’re saying

“The pitch clock was supposed to speed up the game, but it's clear we still have work to do when it comes to improving the pace of play in baseball.”

— Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner

What’s next

MLB officials will likely review the game footage and data to identify areas where the pitch clock rule can be further refined or enforced more strictly to prevent such lengthy contests in the future.

The takeaway

While the pitch clock has helped reduce game times on average, this marathon Yankees-Marlins matchup demonstrates that the new rule still has room for improvement in eliminating unnecessary delays and keeping the action moving briskly, especially in high-scoring affairs with frequent pitching changes.