On Wednesday night, New York Yankees right-hander Domingo Germán pitched a perfect game against the Oakland Athletics, retiring every batter he faced in an 11-0 victory. Germán’s feat marked the 24th perfect game in major league history and the first since Félix Hernández accomplished the feat in 2012.
Germán’s perfect game also became the first no-hitter of the 2023 season. He joined an exclusive group of Yankees pitchers, including Don Larsen, David Wells, and David Cone, who have thrown perfect games for the franchise. Larsen’s perfect game came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.
The 30-year-old Germán, who served a 10-game suspension last month for using an illegal substance on the mound and had previously faced an 81-game ban due to a domestic violence incident, rebounded from a pair of poor starts. He struck out nine of the 27 A’s batters he faced, mixing his pitches effectively and throwing 72 of his 99 pitches for strikes.
Germán’s curveball played a crucial role in setting up his success, and his command of all his pitches impressed Yankees manager Aaron Boone. The closest the Athletics came to reaching base was a sharp grounder by Seth Brown in the fifth inning, which was expertly fielded by first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
The momentous ninth inning saw Germán feel an unprecedented amount of pressure, but he managed to maintain his composure and complete the perfect game. His teammates rushed to the mound to celebrate with him as the crowd stood in appreciation.
This perfect game marked the 13th no-hitter in Yankees history, including Larsen’s World Series gem. It also symbolized a personal turnaround for Germán, who faced significant off-field issues in recent years. The victory against the A’s was the Yankees’ 15th win in 21 games against Oakland since August 2019.
Germán dedicated the performance to his late uncle, who passed away a few days prior. He felt his uncle’s presence throughout the game and considered the perfect game a tribute to him.
The victory brought excitement and joy to the Yankees organization and fans, further solidifying Germán’s place in baseball history.
