German Loses No-Hit Bid in 8th. Yanks Blow Game. Boston 5 NY 4

July 26, 2021 paperbacklou 2021 0

How many gut-punching losses can you have in a season? Whatever it is the Yankees seem to be setting a record this year. In this one, Domingo German took a no-hitter and a 4-0 lead into the 8th. He allowed a leadoff double to Alex Verdugo, and was relieved at 93 pitches. Manager Aaron Boone called on Jonathan Loaisiga, who came in and blew the game, allowing 4 runs as Boston took a 5-4 lead and ballgame.

It allowed Boston to take 3 of 4 in the weekend series — the Yanks blew a win on Friday night as well and could have/should have taken 3 of 4. Instead Boston did and NY is now 9 games back of 1st.

1. German No-Hit Bid

Domingo German was on fire from the get go — getting many first-pitch strikes; his 82-MPH curveball breaking beautifully, his 94-MPH 4-seam fastball sharp with movement; his 88-MPH change up and 92-MPH sinker being mixed in to throw off batters.

In the 7th, German struck out 4 batters — his second strikeout got past catcher Gary Sanchez with the batter reaching first. So Domingo reared back and struck out the next two guys. He was that kind of effective.

“From the get go my mentality was to be very effective with the first pitch, getting a first strike and attacking the zone,” said Domingo German afterwards. “Like I said before, they are a good team and if you fall behind in the count it’s a tougher battle with their lineup. It was important for me to execute that first pitch for a strike, and of course mix all the pitches.

In the bottom of the 5th, German was helped by a Derek Jeter-esq play at shortstop.

2. Yanks Build 4-0 Lead

The Yankee offense gave Domingo German something to work — 4 runs which ain’t bad.

In the 3rd, Boston starter Milton Perez walked Greg Allen and Giancarlo Stanton, and with 2 out, Rougned Odor got a clutch single for a 1-0 NY lead.

In the top of the 4th, Gleyber Torres doubled, Brett Gardner bunted him to 3rd, and Gio Urshela — back from COVID IL list — singled him home off the Green Monster for a 2-0 NY lead.

In the top of the 6th, Odor homered to right center for a 3-0 NY lead.

In the top of the 8th, Gary Sanchez led off with a triple to center, and Gleyber Torres singled him home for a 4-0 NY lead.

Heading into the bottom of the 8th, with German pitching a no hitter, this game looked like it was in the bag.

3. Loaisgia Didn’t Have It

And then came the bottom of the 8th. With all of Yankee land watching and listening to see if German would get the no hitter. Some hoping he wouldn’t — preferring a shutout over a no hitter because he was already at 90 pitches and his season high was 99 and he hadn’t surpassed 90 pitches since May. After all look what happened to Corey Kluber after his no hitter, and so many other pitchers before.

Verdugo led off with the double and Boone came out to pull German; he was at 93 pitches. It was a good  thing.

But Loaisiga didn’t have it. He had just pitched a shutout inning the night before on 26 pitches after a week’s long layoff due to the COVID IL.

Double, single, single, double — a 4-3 game with runners on 2nd and 3rd nobody out.

Many felt Boone should have yanked him after the first 3 batters got hits. The new rule in baseball is that a relief pitcher must pitch to a minimum of 3 batters.

Boone left him in probably a batter too long — Enrique Hernandez‘s double. Suzyn Waldman was saying Zack Britton was warming in the pen but he wasn’t ready.

Finally Britton came in and got 3 straight outs — a groundout by Kevin Plawecki to tie the score, a sac fly to Xander Bogaerts to put Boston ahead 5-4, and a groundout of Rafael Devers to end it.

Too late.

In the 9th, Giancarlo Stanton singled with 2 out, Tyler Wade ran for him and stole 2nd — to put the tying run in scoring position with 2 outs — but Rougned Odor hit a 2-1 pitch for a mile-high popup to 3rd for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401228545

 

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