Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán throws perfect game against Oakland, the 24th in MLB history
Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees pitched the 24th perfect game in major league history Wednesday night, retiring every Oakland batter in an 11-0 victory over the Athletics.
It was the first perfect game since Seattle Mariners ace Félix Hernández threw one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 15, 2012. There were three that season — and none since until Germán finished the first no-hitter in the big leagues this year. Wednesday marked not only 24th perfect game overall, but also the fourth perfect game by the Yankees franchise, which is the most by a single team in MLB history, according to FOX Sports research.
Germán joins Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998) and David Cone (1999) as Yankees pitchers to throw perfect games. Larsen's gem came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
"So exciting," Germán said through a translator. "When you think about something very unique in baseball, not many people have an opportunity to pitch a perfect game. To accomplish something like this in my career is something that I’m going to remember forever."
Coming off a pair of terrible starts, Germán struck out nine against the A's, who have the worst record in the majors. This was the second time a perfect game has been thrown against Oakland, which is tied for third-most in history.
The 30-year-old right-hander had never before thrown a complete game in the big leagues. Winless in six previous outings against Oakland, Germán threw 72 of 99 pitches for strikes. He mixed 51 curveballs and 30 fastballs that averaged 92.5 mph with 17 changeups and one sinker.
With the crowd of 12,479 on its feet for the ninth inning, Germán finished what he started. He got Aledmys Díaz to ground out before Shea Lanegeliers flied out to short center field. When Esteury Ruiz grounded out to third baseman Josh Donaldson to end it, the Yankees' dugout and bullpen emptied as Germán’s teammates raced out to the mound to celebrate.
"That last inning was very different — very different. I felt an amount of pressure that I’ve never felt before," Germán said. "I’m trying to visualize what I want to execute there. At the same time, I don’t want to miss. So much pressure, but yet so rewarding.
"The key there was not to overthrow," he added. "I was feeling the pressure in that inning but at the same time I wanted to not overthrow, keep that same focus from the first inning, understand the lanes of attack we were using during the game and keep executing."
Six days after allowing a career-high 10 runs (eight earned) and four homers over 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the Mariners at home, Germán got his 500th career strikeout and was the definition of perfection.
The night belonged to Germán, who was loudly cheered as the game unfolded. Many fans in Oakland were decked out in Yankees colors or jerseys.
"Unfortunately, two days ago an uncle of mine passed away and I cried a lot yesterday in the clubhouse. So I had him with me throughout the whole game. I was thinking about him," Germán said. "This game is a tribute to him. He would have been so happy. He was always someone that really brought a joy to our family and it happened for him to watch it this way, from up there."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
