Domingo German makes history, throws Yankees’ fourth perfect game – The Denver Post

Fresh off two of the worst starts of his career, Domingo German delivered the definitive game of his life.

The right-hander faced the minimum on Wednesday, twirling the fourth perfect game in Yankees history in an 11-0 win over the lowly A’s. German did so with dazzling efficiency, requiring just 99 pitches while striking out nine in Oakland at Oakland Coliseum.

“So exciting when you think about something very unique in baseball,” German told the YES Network after a joyous celebration. “Not many people have an opportunity to pitch a perfect game. To accomplish something like this in my career is something that I’m going to remember forever.”

German had to overcome two lengthy delays to achieve perfection, as the Yankees’ six-run fifth took 24 minutes and forced German to stay loose in the bullpen. More stoppage occurred in the seventh when A’s reliever Yacksel Rios left with an injury.

But German, leaning heavily on his heater, a devastating curveball and Kyle Higashioka’s brilliant game-calling behind the plate, waited Oakland out and etched his name into the history books. Only 23 other men have been perfect, including the Yankees’ David Cone in 1999, David Wells in 1998 and Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series.

Higashioka became the fourth Yankee to catch a perfect game, joining Joe Girardi (Cone), Jorge Posada (Wells) and Yogi Berra (Larsen).

The Yankees’ last no-hitter came on May 19, 2021, when Corey Kluber accomplished the feat against the Rangers. Baseball’s last perfect game, meanwhile, came courtesy of Seattle’s Felix Hernández on Aug. 15, 2012.

While German dealt, Anthony Rizzo delivered the sparkling defensive play that perfectos and no-hitters always seem to feature. The first baseman hit the ground in the seventh inning when Seth Brown made solid contact on a ball down the line. Rizzo came up with the ball and threw to German, who covered first for the out and thus deprived the A’s of their best shot at a hit.

German then found himself in a rare three-ball count with two out in the eighth, but he induced a groundout from Jonah Bride before cruising through the ninth. The Yankees quickly embraced the starter and posed for pictures afterward.

“That last inning was very different,” German said. “I felt an amount of pressure that I’ve never felt before. I’m trying to visualize what I want to execute there. At the same time, I don’t want to miss. So much pressure, yet so rewarding.”

Wednesday’s gem put German in limited company shared by legends such as Cy Young, Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter and Randy Johnson, as well as pitchers who more resembled one-hit wonders, like Philip Humber and Charlie Robertson. However, German became the first Dominican-born player to throw a perfect game, as well as the first to do so in the PitchCom era.

“I took a couple extra seconds to press the button on each of those pitches,” Higashioka told YES of the ninth inning. “You just don’t want to mess it up. But he was fantastic tonight, and he deserves all the credit.”

The night also marked a spectacular turnaround for German, who allowed 15 earned runs over his previous two starts and heard boos while leaving the Yankee Stadium mound his last time out.

German also told YES that he’s been mourning the death of his uncle, who passed away two days ago. He spent time crying in the Yankees’ clubhouse Tuesday, and he dedicated his perfect game to his late relative.

“I’m so proud of him,” Aaron Boone told reporters. “He’s been through so much. This has not been an easy week or time for him. For him to go out there and paint that masterpiece was really just a lot of fun to be able to watch.”

German wasn’t guaranteed a spot in the Yankees’ season-opening rotation, but injuries paved a way for him. Despite his recent rough outings and a 10-game sticky stuff suspension, he’s been the Yankees’ second-best starter this season behind staff ace Gerrit Cole.

German now owns a 4.54 ERA this season, as well as the Yankees’ most memorable pitching performance of the year.

Wednesday’s momentous start entered another chapter to what’s been a winding career for German.

He started his professional journey with the Marlins, who threw him into the 2014 trade that also sent Nathan Eovaldi to the Bronx. A prospect at the time, general manager Brian Cashman described German as a “lottery ticket.”

German debuted for New York in 2017 and enjoyed his first taste of success in 2019, when he won 18 games. But he was put on administrative leave that September for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy, and he ultimately served an 81-game suspension.

At the time, the suspension, which stemmed from an incident involving German’s girlfriend, was the longest-ever for a player who had been investigated for domestic violence but never criminally charged.

“Sometimes you don’t get to control who your teammates are, and that’s the situation,” former Yankees reliever Zack Britton said when German rejoined the team for the 2021 season. He finished serving his suspension during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

German has since seen mixed results while working mostly as a starter. He recorded a 4.58 ERA in 2021 after a season away. He fared much better last year, tallying a 3.61 ERA after starting the season with a shoulder impingement.

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