DETROIT – Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” blared through the speakers at Comerica Park, a fitting send-off for several thousand Detroit Tigers fans that stuck around for a game that lasted even longer than the 4-hour and 1-minute rain delay that preceded it.

Carlos Guillen’s three-run homer lifted Detroit to a 9-6 win over the New York Yankees this morning.
“First time I hit one at 3:30 in the morning,” Mr. Guillen said. “Long day for us.”

It was even longer for the Yankees.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 43rd homer for the Yankees, who got a poor performance from Roger Clemens and fell three games behind the Seattle Mariners in the wild-card race and 6½ behind Boston in the AL East.

“It’s just tough to take a loss at 3-something in the morning,” New York catcher Jorge Posada said.

The Tigers pulled within 1½ games of the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central, and moved within five games of the Mariners in the wild-card standings.

Chad Durbin (8-6) pitched the 11th to earn the win and Sean Henn (2-2) took the loss, allowing Mr. Guillen’s homer to left after getting two outs in the 11th. It was the second time this week Mr. Henn took the loss in extra innings for New York.

The game lasted 4 hours and 24 minutes and ended at 3:30 a.m. EDT, with several thousand fans still at Comerica Park.

“We got the game in and fortunately, we got the win,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “I haven’t played a game that ended this late.”

The umpires made the final call to start the series opener at 11:05 p.m., and Yankees manager Joe Torre said he may have mentioned playing a doubleheader to them.

“But I don’t make that decision,” Mr. Torre said. “It certainly made it tougher to lose. I don’t know what to say, basically. I’m pretty well spent.”

The Yankees had chances to go ahead in the ninth and 10th innings, but Tigers reliever Fernando Rodney shut them down.

Melky Cabrera hit a leadoff single in the ninth and stole second, but Derek Jeter, Messrs. Rodriguez and Posada struck to end the threat.

Mr. Posada argued with umpire Bob Davidson about the second called strike and had to be calmed down by first-base coach Tony Pena. When Mr. Posada struck out looking, he turned and said something to Mr. Davidson and was ejected.

Mr. Torre came out of the dugout as Mr. Posada shouted face to face with Mr. Davidson, and had to restrain the catcher from continuing the heated argument.
“His strike zone was a mystery – on both sides,” Mr. Torre said.

Mr. Posada declined to comment about what led to his ejection.

Mr. Rodney walked Hideki Matsui to start the 10th, then got out of the inning with a double play and groundout.

Detroit blew a chance to send their fans home happy in the 10th.

Magglio Ordonez, who homered nearly 4 hours earlier in the first inning, led off the first extra inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Mariano Rivera intentionally walked two Tigers to load the bases, then got out of the jam with a liner and a strikeout.

Curtis Granderson went 4-for-6 with three RBIs. He hit two triples, extending his major league lead to 21, and became the first Tiger to hit at least 20 since Ty Cobb in 1917.

Mr. Ordonez also had four hits, improving his batting average to .357, the best in baseball.

In a matchup of 45- and 22-year-old pitchers, it was a push.

Mr. Clemens gave up a season-high six earned runs, six hits and three walks over five innings.

Andrew Miller allowed six runs, six hits and three walks over 4 1-3 innings in his first start since coming off the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

Mr. Clemens’ major league debut came more than a year before Mr. Miller was born in 1985.

Mr. Miller – the sixth pick overall 14 months ago – won the Clemens Award last year as the best pitcher in college baseball. The former North Carolina star became the first to face Mr. Clemens after winning the award honoring him.

After the starters were shaky, both bullpens were solid.

Detroit’s Tim Byrdak, Jason Grilli, Bobby Seay and Rodney combined to pitch 5 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.

“To hold that lineup down for that long is amazing,” Mr. Leyland said.
Edwar Ramirez, Joba Chamberlain, Kyle Farnsworth and Luis Vizcaino combined to pitch four innings of scoreless relief.

“The bullpen was outstanding,” Mr. Clemens said.

Menawhile, At New York, Oliver Perez (12-8) outpitched Los Angeles Dodgers ace Brad Penny (14-4), and New York got a dazzling all-around performance from David Wright.

Mr. Perez tossed seven shutout innings, and Mr. Wright homered, drove in two runs and made a pair of outstanding defensive plays at third base.<