Domingo German’s dominant start goes to waste as relievers lose lead in 3-2 loss to Cleveland
Domingo German pitched the game of his life on Monday. Then Clay Holmes blew it all up as the Yankees suffered another brutal loss in their return to the Bronx.
Holmes took over with a 2-0 lead and one out in the ninth. A few batters and one Holmes fielding error later, Guardians first baseman and Yankees nemesis Josh Naylor tied the game with a two-run single. From there, heavy boos soundtracked Holmes’ departure.
Wandy Peralta then walked in the winning run before the inning ended, and the Yankees failed to rally in the bottom of the ninth off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. Just like that, a brilliant pitching performance went to waste as the Yanks lost, 3-2.
“I just thought it was the right decision to do that there,” Boone said of pulling German after 88 dominant pitches in favor of Holmes, who last pitched April 26. “Obviously, it didn’t work, so ultimately, that falls on me. Domingo was great, but I wasn’t gonna let him go back around there with the tying runs coming to the plate. Especially with the [right-on-right Amed] Rosario matchup right there, that’s set up well for Clay.”
The Bombers have now scored fewer than four runs in 15 of their last 18 games. A Jose Trevino home run and an RBI single from DJ LeMahieu provided all of the Yankees’ scoring in the third inning.
While Monday served as the Yankees’ second consecutive debilitating loss following a 15-2 defeat in Texas on Sunday, German shined against Cleveland in the longest outing of his career.
Home runs plagued German in his last two starts, but the right-hander didn’t run into any such trouble against Cleveland. Instead, the rotation replacement blanked the Guardians for 8.1 efficient innings while surrendering just two hits. German also struck out six while restricting Cleveland to just one walk before Holmes spoiled the lengthy start.
“It was an unbelievable performance by Domingo. Just pitching that deep, being that efficient, not giving up any runs; it was the kind of start that we needed. It’s just frustrating,” Holmes said. “Bottom line, I just need to be better. It’s a situation there where we just need to get a ground ball and make a pitch. I just didn’t get the job done.”
German leaned on his curveball to keep the Guardians guessing. He went to the offering 44% of the time to induce nine whiffs while using his fastball as his No. 2 pitch. German also mixed in some changeups and sinkers throughout the night.
He said he didn’t feel tired at the end, but Boone cited German’s proneness to homers as another reason for pulling him. The Guardians entered Monday second to last in home runs this season.
“The longball’s plagued him a little bit at times, and I just didn’t want him to be in a situation where he wasn’t gonna do anything but win that game,” Boone said. “That felt like it was the right decision to do in the moment.”
Added German: “Of course you want the opportunity to finish the game, but at the same time, you understand that’s the decision that our manager makes, and I’m never going to disagree when he comes out. To me, I have to keep doing my job until that moment comes.”
Aside from the third inning, the Yankees’ offense remained cold. Cal Quantrill’s own performance on the mound played a part in that, as the Guardians righty went 7.1 innings while logging six hits, two earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts.
After taking two out of three from the Guardians in Cleveland earlier this season, the slumping Yankees will try to do the same at home before visiting the first place Rays this weekend.
Gerrit Cole faces rookie Tanner Bibee, who is making his second career start, on Tuesday. Bibee allowed one earned run while tallying eight strikeouts in his debut against the Rockies on April 26, while Cole owns a 5-0 record, 1.11 ERA and 44 strikeouts over six starts.
Guardians ace Shane Bieber and his 3.11 ERA are scheduled to oppose Clarke Schmidt in the series finale. Schmidt owns a 6.84 ERA through six starts.
“In times like these, you can’t really hang your head or look around,” Holmes said of the last place Yankees. “You’ve got to be the guy to believe in yourself and do a job. I think that’s what everybody knows that we need to do, and as tough as it is and as hard as this stretch has been, it’s just going to take us bouncing back and believing in ourselves and getting one out at a time and winning one game at a time. That starts tomorrow.”
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