Twins Outlast Indians, 5-4, in 22-Inning Marathon

Pedro Munoz led off the 22nd inning with a home run to end the longest game in Minnesota Twins’ history as they beat the Cleveland Indians, 5-4, Tuesday night.

Munoz’s 390-foot shot to right-center field came against reliever Jason Grimsley (1-2), the seventh Indians’ pitcher, and ended the 6-hour 17-minute contest.

It was the longest game in the major leagues this season. The previous American League high was 15 innings between Chicago and Kansas City on June 12. The longest National League game this year is a 20 innings between the Dodgers and Phillies on July 7.

Brett Merriman (1-0), the seventh Twins’ pitcher, went three innings for his first major league victory. Six Minnesota relievers held the Indians to six hits in the final 14 innings.

The Twins’ previous longest game was 20 innings. It was also the longest game at the Metrodome. Cleveland’s longest game in time was 6 hours 30 minutes, over 19 innings at home game against Boston on April 11, 1992.