For the second time in a week, manager Aaron Boone pulled Domingo German from a start prematurely — and all hell broke loose as the Yankees lost to Tampa, 8-2.
This time German was “Dealing” into the 6th in a pitcher’s duel with Drew Rasmussen — NY down 1-0 — when with 2 outs German walked a batter. He was only at 87 pitches but out came Boone, and in came Ron Marinaccio , who had struggled in his last appearance Monday night (2 hits and 2 walks in 1 inning). Marinaccio didn’t have it again — single, hit-by-pitch, double and it was a 4-0 game. The air and energy came out of Yankee Stadium like a balloon had popped.
Boone brought Albert Abreu in for the 7th and it was quickly 5-0. And with the game seemingly over, he brought Ryan Webber in for mop up in the 8th and 9th — and Webber allowed 3 more runs.
Rasmussen laid down 7 filthy innings of shutout ball, but the Yanks did get to Tampa’s bullpen for 2 runs in the 9th for the final score.
On a beautiful, 78-degree Spring Thursday evening in the Bronx.
When asked what he saw from Domingo, and what caused him to pull him after the walk, Boone said: “I thought Domingo was really, really good. I thought Domingo did a good job with his fastball too. Of not being so predictable; getting them off the off speed a little bit. Using the fastball effectively. Spun it well. Yea just going with Ron there at that point for the bottom (of the lineup).”
Which might beg the question — if Ron was brought in to face the bottom of the lineup — why not keep German in for a few more batters?
NY drops to 21-18, in dead last in the AL East, 9 games back of the 30-9 Rays.
1. German Lights’ Out Again
Only good news for the Yanks: Domingo German pitching ‘lights out’ yet again — looking with every start like the pitcher who went 18-4 4.03 in 2019.
His curveball was curving; he had command of his fastball.
Domingo Germán, Dirty 85mph Curveball. 😨 pic.twitter.com/26i46F6Dr5
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 11, 2023
What was even more impressive — this was the 2nd time German had faced the hard-hitting Tampa lineup in 5 days — and still shut them down.
“This year they’ve been very selective,” said German afterwards about Tampa’s lineup through the Yankee translator. “Working counts, getting good pitches to hit. At the same time, for me as a pitcher, I have to make the necessary adjustments to execute my plan, and make sure with that, that this is our minimum. That’s really it; it’s a battle back and forth.”
Domingo Germán, Elevated 93mph Fastball…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ybZUAPIVwC
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 11, 2023
German had a 2-hit shutout going into the 5th, when with 1 out, Anthony Rizzo of all people made an error at 1st base allowing Brandon Lowe to reach. German got the 2nd out, but Yandy Diaz doubled for a run.
And then came Boone’s blunder in the 6th. German got the first 2 outs — but walked the hot-hitting Tyler Walls on 5 pitches.
In came the recently-slumping Marinaccio and out went the game.
2. Rasmussen Elite
On the other hill was one of the best pitchers in the AL — Drew Rasmussen — and the Yanks couldn’t touch him. He was throwing 97-MPH smoke, offset by an 88-MPH cutter and 80-MPH curveball.
Drew Rasmussen's 2Ks in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/BiyxYXYxaW
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 11, 2023
Jake Bauers was the only Yankee to touch him — with 1-out singles in the 2nd and the 5th. Other than that — the Yanks got Nothing.
Rasmussen finished with a slash line of 7 innings, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts, 0 walks — he improves to 4-12 2.82.
3. Yanks Relief Horrid
Pitching Albert Abreu is like playing with matches — he can tease goodness, but then you get burned and Boone is regularly getting burned. Abreu got the first 2 outs of the 7th, but then walk, walk, RBI double by Taylor Walls and it was 5-0 and Yankee Stadium was as quiet as a library.
Ryan Webber — who is back after pitching well for the Yanks at the end of last year — came in for the 8th and it was immediate single, homerun by Jonathan Lowe to make it 7-0. A double, out, doubly by Isaac Paredes made it 8-0 before Webber settled down to get out of the inning, and then pitched a shutout 9th.
4. NY Scores 2 in 9th
The Yankee offense finally got going in the bottom of the 9th — a leadoff double by Willie Calhoun off reliever Javy Guerra, then two 2-out walks loaded the bases. Gleyber Torres singled in 2 runs. But Jake Bauers struck out for the old ballgame.
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