In a stunning display of skill and precision, Domingo German of the New York Yankees pitched a flawless game against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night. The talented starter allowed no hits and no walks, throwing a total of 99 pitches in an impressive 11-0 victory.
German’s performance was a standout moment in a season filled with ups and downs for the Yankees. Despite facing a suspension and struggling with a sub-.500 record leading up to Wednesday’s game, German showed incredible mastery on the mound against the last-place Athletics. He expertly mixed his pitches, keeping the opposing batters off balance, and recorded an impressive nine strikeouts along the way.
This outstanding achievement marked the fourth perfect game in the history of the Yankees franchise. Moreover, it was the first perfect game in Major League Baseball since Felix Hernandez accomplished the feat for the Seattle Mariners on August 15, 2012.
Notably, Domingo German became the first player in MLB history to pitch a perfect game after allowing 10 or more runs in his previous start, as reported by ESPN Stats & Information research. This remarkable accomplishment puts him in the elite company of Yankees pitchers Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998), and David Cone (1999) who have also achieved this milestone. Larsen’s memorable perfect game took place in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
When asked during his postgame interview on the YES Network when he began entertaining thoughts of throwing a perfect game, Domingo German, speaking through an interpreter, stated that he had been focused on it throughout the entire game.
Teammate Kyle Higashioka, the New York catcher, expressed his joy for German’s achievement, acknowledging the pitcher’s recent struggles. Higashioka said, “I always felt like if anyone, he had a really good chance to do something like this. For it to all come together tonight, it’s just amazing.”
Domingo German, who had given up 15 earned runs on 15 hits in his previous two starts, demonstrated increasing strength and control as the game progressed. In the ninth inning, he astoundingly needed only six pitches to complete the game.
Reflecting on his historic achievement, German remarked, “So exciting. When you think about something very unique in baseball, you know not many people have an opportunity to pitch a perfect game… It’s something that I am going to remember forever, be part of history, so exciting.”
Prior to the game against Oakland, German had been winless in his six previous outings against the team. However, he displayed exceptional accuracy, throwing 72 out of 99 pitches for strikes. Domingo German relied on a mix of 51 curveballs and 30 fastballs, averaging 92.5 mph, along with 17 changeups and one sinker.
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged German’s dominant performance, emphasizing the lack of adjustments made by his team’s offense. Kotsay said, “He threw strikes, he pounded the zone, obviously. You don’t not throw strikes when you go nine innings and don’t get a baserunner.”
The victory against Oakland marked the Yankees’ third win in their last four games and kicked off a road trip that includes a weekend series in St. Louis.
Just over a month ago, Domingo German faced a 10-game suspension from Major League Baseball due to his use of excessive rosin on his hands during a start against the Toronto Blue Jays. In a subsequent statement, German vowed to use less rosin and apologized to his teammates for the incident.
However, German’s triumph in Oakland improved his record to 5-5 and showcased an uncharacteristic offensive outburst from his fellow Yankees. The team exploded for six runs in the sixth inning and added three more in the ninth, with Giancarlo Stanton contributing a home run and three RBIs. This was Stanton’s seventh home run of the season.
The impeccable performance by Domingo German will undoubtedly go down in history as a shining moment for both the pitcher and the New York Yankees, leaving fans and baseball enthusiasts in awe of his incredible achievement.
