NEW YORK (AP) — On the 993rd day after Luis Gil won his major league debut, he got win No. 2.

Now 25 and nearly two years after Tommy John surgery, the right-hander struck out a career-high nine over 5 2/3 innings Sunday in the New York Yankees’ 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Throughout that time, you stay positive. You keep your head up, you keep doing all the work and you’re looking for it to pay off,” Gil said through a translator.

Gil made his big league debut on Aug. 3, 2021, when he filled in for ace Gerrit Cole, who tested positive for COVID-19. Gil was inserted into the rotation this season because the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is sidelined by right elbow inflammation.

Gil (1-1) allowed an unearned run caused by his own throwing error on a pickoff try and the first of his two balks. Making his 11th big league start, he gave up two hits and three walks — two of them to his final two batters.