German’s Curveball Was Curving. Perfect Game into 6th. NY 6 Minnesota 1

April 16, 2023 paperbacklou 2023 0

When Domingo German‘s curveball is curving, he becomes one of the best pitchers in the American League. Numerous times in his career he has flirted with a no-hitter late into games — as late as the 8th inning.

And on this cool and cloudy/foggy Saturday afternoon at the Stadium — German’s curveball was curving: and his fastball was pretty good too. He had a Perfect Game through 5 innings, broken up by a 1-out single by Christian Vazquez in the 6th. German pitched into the 7th, leaving with a 4-0 lead.

A Kyle Higashioka 2-run homer and Anthony Rizzo solo homer provided the early offense, and a Giancarlo Stanton missile of a double provided 2 insurance runs late. Michael King pitched the last 2.2 innings shutout ball for the save.

“Good life to his fastball and he used it,” said manager Aaron Boone about German. “But had a really good curveball going too. I thought his curveball was really good today, but he had some power to his fastball and he used it. I think he locked them up sometimes — they were expecting some secondary and he snuck a four seamer or the sinker in there. I thought he and Higgy did a really good job of mixing pitches.”

Controversy

There was controversy however, when umps felt there was too much Rosin on German’s hand at the end of the 3rd inning. He was told to wash his hand. He came out for the 4th with Rosin still on his hand — which caused the umps to convene.

Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli argued German should be tossed from the game because he didn’t wash his hand. German and the Yankees argued he had washed his hand, but then dipped it in Rosin in the dugout before coming out for the 4th. The umps gave German the green light — saying the level of Rosin was ok — and Baldelli was tossed for arguing!

The win improved NY’s record to 9-6; Minnesota falls to 10-5; Tampa lost to Toronto for the 2nd straight game to fall to 13-2 (Toronto is 10-5).

1. German Fantastic

After the game, Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli was asked if he thought the Rosin sticky-hand had anything to do with German pitching the game of his life. The reporters — possibly from Minnesota — got it wrong: this was not German’s game of his life — he has regularly flirted with no hitters when his curveball is curving — aka he has excellent control of it and it is diving.

German has had these prior games with NY:

More German History

In 2019, German was 18-4 4.03 — his curveball curved a lot. Then came an almost 1-yr suspension for a domestic violence incident, COVID, and an injury. Last year and this, German is the Yanks’ 6th starter — an insurance starter.

Still in his prime at age 30, German is in the rotation to start the year because Frankie Montas is out for the year, and Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino are out now too.

Curveball Curving

In German’s last start, his curveball wasn’t curving — sufficiently; and he had no control, walking 5 batters.

In this game, German retired the first 16 batters, 10 on strikeouts. He was FILTHY. And within umpire Rosin-limit guidelines. The umps checked his hand and glove after every inning as they do every pitcher.

German’s line: 6.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 11 K’s, 0 walks.

“He was mixing his pitches well,” said Higgy about German. “He was throwing strikes, getting ahead of batters, and causing them to expand their zone. He was really good with that. He had everything working today, so it was great.”

2. Yankee HR’s Provide Early Lead

Meanwhile Kyle Higashioka got the Yanks a 2-0 lead with a homer to left in the 2nd off Twins starter Tyler Mahle.

Anthony Rizzo made it 3-0 NY with a solo bomb to right in the 3rd.

3. Volpe Steals 3 Bases

In the 5th, Anthony Volpe walked, stole 2nd, and scored on a DJ LeMahieu single.

In the 8th, Volpe singled with 2 outs, and stole 2nd and 3rd, but was left on.

4. Giancarlo 2-Run Missile Double

With LeMahieu and Aaron Judge on base in the 7th, Giancarlo Stanton hit a MISSILE to left center that everyone in the park and on TV thought would be an easy  homer, but it hit a few feet from the top of the wall for a 2-RBI double.

5. Michael King Gives Agita — then 2.2 Shutout Innings

German struck out the first batter of the 7th, then allowed a double to Trevor Larnach and was gone.

Michael King came in and immediately allowed a double to Jose Miranda to make it 4-1, and then a single to Solano to put 1st and 3rd with 1 out — and give Yankee fans much agita.

But King got Max Kepler to hit into a huge inning-ending double play.

King then retired the next 6 batters in the 8th and 9th in order for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471233

 

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