Domingo German Picks Up His 13th Win Of The Season, Helps New York Salvage Finale In Boston

New York’s starting rotation of CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka , James Paxton , J.A. Happ haven’t done so well as they haven’t gone deep into games recently and they’ve been giving up lots of runs to the opposition.

On Sunday however at Fenway Park Domingo German who is taking the place of Luis Severino who has yet to throw from a big league mound this season because of a shoulder and lat strain halted New York’s losing streak and helped them salvage the finale against their American League East rivals and along with that picked his thirteenth win of the season.

German struck out nine and pitched into the sixth inning while Romine and Didi Gregorius slugged homers off Chris Sale, helping New York salvage the finale of a four-game series at Fenway Park with a 9-6 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

"I felt it was my responsibility to go out there and put a stop to it," German said through a translator. "It's been a rough patch for us starters. Tonight I felt I needed to go out there and be aggressive." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

Yankees starters had failed to complete five innings in seven straight games, a string that German snapped by limiting Boston to three runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings. The win restored New York's lead in the American League East to nine games over Boston and 8 1/2 games over the second-place Rays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

"This was a bad week, but for Domingo to go out and do it, I'm not surprised," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "That moment for him wasn't too big. I knew he'd be in command of his emotions regardless of the outcome. He certainly was." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

German notched his 13th victory, good for a share of the AL lead, as he held Boston hitless through the first 11 batters of the contest. Andrew Benintendi slugged a two-run homer in the fourth, halving the Yanks' lead at the time to 4-2, but the Yanks padded German's lead with a pair of sixth-inning runs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

A leadoff walk (German's only free pass of the night), Xander Bogaerts' double and a J.D. Martinez RBI groundout brought Boston within three runs, but Boone called upon Tommy Kahnle for the final two outs of that frame, freezing German's line. German threw 57 of 77 pitches for strikes. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

"We needed that start from Domingo, badly," Romine said. "I think he came out and was the most calm I have seen him, the most collected I have seen him. I think he was on a mission and throwing some really good pitches there, keeping them off balance. It's the first time we’ve seen some off-balance swings. It was much needed and great." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

Goin' deep

Leads have been difficult to come by in a series in which the Yankees were outscored, 44 to 22, but Romine put New York on top by reaching the Green Monster seats for a two-run shot in the third inning. Romine's third homer of the season came off the bat at 111.4 mph and traveled a projected 446 feet, according to Statcast. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

"I was just trying to get something up," Romine said. "I've faced him a couple times before. They know I am looking first-pitch fastball, so maybe something up and in the zone [that I can] get a good swing off. I did." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

Gregorius visited the right-field seats with a two-run homer off Sale in the fourth inning, and one night after posting the first four-hit game of his career, Urshela continued to swing a hot bat by adding a run-scoring double in the sixth off Sale. Urshela owns eight extra-base hits in his last six games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

"The power continues to play; I think everyone keeps waiting for [Urshela] to fall off," Boone said. "It's just more good at-bats and it seems like the better the competition, the bigger the spot, he seems to be a little better too." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

Cameron Maybin also drove in a run off Sale, who was charged with six runs over 5 1/3 innings. Sale fell to 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Yankees this year, having allowed 14 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

'Pen pals

New York owned an 8-3 lead after the top of the seventh, thanks to a bizarre error by center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who threw toward first base on a Gregorius flyout, believing that he had Luke Voit doubled off. No fielder was nearby to accept the throw as two runs came home. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

Kahnle, Adam Ottavino, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman combined to close out the victory, though it wasn't exactly comfortable. Britton escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth, striking out Bradley and inducing Christian Vazquez to hit into a fielder's choice. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

Benintendi stroked a two-run single off Chapman in the ninth, but the closer recovered to strike out Michael Chavis and seal New York's third win of their week-long trip to Minneapolis and Boston. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

"This was heavy, this game," Boone said. "It looked like we were pulling away and going to walk away; they kept throwing baserunners up there to make it tough. Britt made some big pitches there to get out of the eighth and then Chappy the same." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-defeat-sale-red-sox-in-series-finale

Meanwhile Domingo German’s counterpart in Chris Sale had yet another rough outing against New York.

The combination of Sale’s three walks and two homers allowed conspired to hand him a frustrating 9-6 loss to the Yankees that pinned the Sox nine games back in the American League East on a night they had a chance to close the gap to seven. Boston is one game behind the Athletics for the second AL Wild Card spot. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

“We had an unbelievable series up until today,” said Sale. “And even today, we gave them everything they could handle. Just, as I sit here in front of you today, it’s kind of the same as a few other starts. Without me, we have a pretty good chance to win this game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

“To come out here and just be flat-out terrible, that’s tough. We had a chance to sweep a four-game set against the team that’s in front of us and we don’t have a whole bunch of games left -- it’s time to go.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

The lefty got himself into trouble with mislocated pitches over the heart of the plate, as well as others that didn’t come close enough to the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

All three batters Sale walked wound up scoring. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

“I could take pitching bad and still winning a game or giving my team a chance to win, but I really kind of sucked the life out of us today,” Sale said. “And I was kind of the deciding factor.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

The frustrating part is that Sale seemed to get himself back to where he wanted in his previous two starts -- both of which he won while allowing a total of two runs over 12 innings while striking out 22. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

One of the toughest parts of Sale’s sub-par season to date (5-10, 4.26 ERA) is that there seems to be a different issue each time he struggles. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

This time, it was the disappearance of his command whenever he pitched from the stretch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

“It just seemed like my stuff flattened out when I got out of the stretch,” said Sale. “That’s when they did all their damage. Just something to look at there and figure out what I’m doing differently there as opposed to being out of the windup.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

To struggle against the Yankees is something new for Sale. In 14 starts against the Yankees prior to this season, Sale had a 1.66 ERA. But this season, the Bronx Bombers have given him fits, as evidenced by Sale’s 0-3 record and 7.71 ERA against them. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

The one redeeming thing about that for Sale is that his next start will also be against the Yankees on Saturday in New York as part of a day-night doubleheader. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

“That’s really good for me,” said Sale. “I really enjoy back-to-back starts, especially when the first one doesn’t go well. You always want your chance for redemption, or to try to pay them back. I enjoy the competition. Obviously it didn't go well, but I have a chance to get ‘em next week. I’m excited about that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

This one wasn’t all on Sale. Boston was also sloppy in the field, making three errors and uncorking an untimely wild pitch that led to a run. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

What happened on that JBJ misplay?

Despite Sale’s struggles, Boston’s relentless offense was hanging tough and threatening to make a game of it. But the wind was taken out of their sails a little on a rare misplay by elite defender Jackie Bradley Jr.. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

Down 6-3 in the seventh, Bradley raced in to make a nice basket catch for the second out of the inning. Sensing he could double Luke Voit off first – particularly after teammate Xander Bogaerts pointed for him to throw there -- Bradley fired to first. He realized too late that nobody was covering first. The ball went out of play for a devastating error that allowed two runs to score. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

It’s a freak play,” said manager Alex Cora, mentioning how all his defenders were lined up in the right spot in the event Bradley threw to the plate. Cora added that Voit created the chaos by making a baserunning error. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

But Bradley acknowledges he should have made sure the play was there before he forced the issue. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

“I made the play,” Bradley said. “I looked home, checked the runner at third first. He’s the main priority. Saw Edwin [Encarnacion] getting back to second. Started getting told to throw it to first. Nobody was there. It’s a play I shouldn’t have thrown. It was a play that I shouldn’t have tried to make. I could have just thrown it in where I was going to throw it initially and been done with the play.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

Now what?

It was still a good week for the Red Sox to go 5-2 against the two teams they were chasing in the Rays and Yankees. Those are the same two teams they play this week, starting with three against the Rays at Fenway from Tuesday to Thursday and then four at Yankee Stadium over the weekend. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

In between comes Wednesday’s Trade Deadline. Of course Cora will stay in touch with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

“We’ll talk,,” Cora said. “I don’t know how much, but we’ll talk. Everybody knows what’s going on so. We’ve been talking all the time. The communication between Dave and myself is on a daily basis and we know where we’re at with the club and we know what we have to do to make it better.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

Bullpen help figures to Dombrowski’s priority. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-lose-finale-miss-yankees-sweep

New York has an off day Monday before they welcome Arizona to the Bronx for a quick two game series.