Domingo German looked “rusty”.
Or “awful” as a Yankee fan @BKAllDay on Twitter corrected.
In his first start in a year, German allowed 5 runs in the first 2 innings before pitching a shutout 3rd — but it put the Yanks in a 5-0 hole they could never quite climb out of.
JP Sears came on in relief and was ‘lights out’ for 2 innings — causing massive second guessing of manager Aaron Boone on Yankee Twitter, until Sears allowed a 2-run homer in the 6th to make it 7-2.
But the Yanks made a last inning comeback try: Aaron Judge hit a 3-run homer with 2 outs in the 9th to make it 7-5, and Gleyber Torres followed with a single to bring up the magical Matt Carpenter ride as the tying run. But he grounded out for the old ballgame.
The loss followed a 3-2 loss in the 1st game of the doubleheader — an Astros sweep during the first day of play after the All Star break. A Thursday in Houston.
A Bad Day for the Yankees.
NY falls to 64-30; Houston improves to 61-32 — right on the Yankee tail for best record in baseball.
1. German ‘Rusty”
Domingo German made his first start since July 31, 2021. He has been out since Spring Training with right shoulder impingement syndrome, and missed the last 2 months of last year with a right shoulder strain. He did pitch 1.1 innings at the end of last season — on October 1st, 2021 — against Tampa.
In German’s last start — a year ago back on July 31, 2021 — he pitched 4 innings of 2 hit, 2 run ball against Miami; and in the start before that, a No Hitter bid with 7 innings of 1 hit ball against the Red Sox on July 25, 2021.
German was pitching to a 0.44 ERA in 20.1 innings in rehab starts in A, AA, and AAA this year for the Yanks — with only 9 hits allowed in 20 innings.
But that was the minor leagues. In the top of the 1st against Houston, he got the first two batters to ground out then allowed back to back homers by Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman. Houston 2 NY 0.
In the bottom of the 2nd, he allowed consecutive doubles by Jeremy Pena and Yordon Alvarez, and an RBI single by Bregman. Houston 5 NY 0.
German pitched a shutout 3rd inning so there was some good news.
“Every outing you have to get something positive out of it,” said German afterwards. “For me, today I have to command my pitches better, especially when I’m attacking up in the zone. I definitely work on that. And keep being aggressive.”
2. Gleyber Homer Gets Yanks Back In it
Gleyber Torres got the Yanks within earshot with a 2-run homer off Houston starter Luis Garcia in the top of the 3rd. Houston 5 NY 2.
Gleyber goes yard 💪 pic.twitter.com/LjteLCA5Bj
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 21, 2022
3. Sears Great. Until the Homer
In came young 5’11 lefty JP Sears and he was lights out — pitching 1-2-3 innings in the 4th and 5th. But in the 5th, Sears allowed a 2-run homer to Chas McCormick. Houston 7 NY 2.
4. Hicks Just Missed
In the bottom of the 8th, the Yanks had 2 on with 2 out when Aaron Hicks hit a ball to the wall in right center — just missing a 3-run homer that would have made it a ballgame.
5. Judge HR Leads Comeback Try in 9th
Aaron Judge didn’t miss with his 410-foot drive to left in the 9th — a 3-run homer with 2 outs to make it 7-5.
#AllRise for Homer No. 34 pic.twitter.com/c95MqPtToe
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 22, 2022
Gleyber Torres followed with a single bringing Matt Carpenter to the plate as the tying run — but he grounded out for the old ballgame.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401423241
Love that picture of the Astro fan!