Jun 28, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German (0) gets drenched after pitching a perfect game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. It was the first perfect game in MLB since 2012 and the fourth perfect game in franchise history. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Yankees at Oakland Athletics
(Oakland, California) — It was well past midnight on the East Coast when Domingo Germán become the 24th pitcher in MLB history to record a perfect game.
Mobbed on the mound by his teammates, Germán also celebrated becoming the fourth Yankee in history to go flawless.
This feat carries an incredible precedent to be followed by the Bombers this season. In each year a Yankee has thrown a perfect game, the team has gone on to win the World Series.
With this team’s recent struggles, perhaps this could be the turning point Germán and the Yankees have been desperately searching for.
The 30-year-old starter was dominant from start to finish, concluding the entire game with less than 100 pitches. The right hander seemed comfortable reaching to his patented curveball, and finally found his groove on the bump in a major way after getting shelled in consecutive starts against the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox.
The bats also got a much-needed jolt, reaching base consistently and putting the ball in play en route to an 11 run thrashing.
While this historic performance was powerful enough on the field, it was the circumstances off the field that made it so much more important to the pitcher.
“Unfortunately, two days ago an uncle of mine passed away,” Germán explained through his interpreter. “I cried a lot yesterday in the clubhouse. You know, I had him with me throughout the whole game… This game is a tribute to him.”
This is the first perfect game for the Yankees since David Cone in 1999, and the first league-wide since Felix Hernandez’ shutdown of the Rays in 2012.
