The Yankees Split The Subway Series With The Mets

After losing the opening game of the subway series the Yankees bounced back with a win over their crosstown rival the Mets earning a split in the subway series.

-- The Yankees beat the Mets, 5-1, at Citi Field on Wednesday night in Domingo Germán's return from the injured list. German had been sidelined with a left hip flexor strain since early June. German said after the game that he did not feel the injury at all during his outing. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

“Stuff, tempo, command, everything. That was the good, dominant version of Domingo we saw so much the first couple months of the season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “It was exciting to see him pitch that well.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

German, who notched his 10th victory, allowed just one run over six innings, striking out six batters while not issuing a walk. He threw 80 pitches, which matched up with the pitch-count range Boone mentioned before the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

For him to be that efficient, get us through six innings like he did, great having him back and really, really excited for him that he came out and pitched so well,” Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

German allowed a leadoff home run to Jeff McNeil, but settled down from there, allowing just four more hits over his six innings, with a double to Pete Alonso being the only other hit for extra bases. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

“First pitch, McNeil takes him deep, and you kind of watch him react to it, and there’s no reaction,” Boone said. “It’s just like, ‘OK, start making pitches.’ And he’s done a really good job of that, I feel like, not getting emotionally distracted by good things that happen on the mound or even in times when he’s struggled a little bit. He’s really been under control, and I think tonight he certainly was.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

McNeil acknowledged after the game how good German was after that first pitch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

"He mixed really well,” McNeil said. “He threw a lot of offspeed pitches, and that kept you honest with his fastball. He was locating. He did really well.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

German got off to a sparkling start this season for the Yankees, posting a 9-1 record and a 2.60 ERA in his first 10 outings -- nine starts and a two-inning relief appearance. But in his final three starts before being placed on the injured list, he had an 8.59 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

Based on his results on Wednesday, it appears he’s back to being the pitcher he was early in the season, at least for now. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

The Yankees provided German with plenty of offense, getting out to a 2-0 lead before German even took the mound on first-inning RBI hits from Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres. They tacked on later in the game on back-to-back home runs from Didi Gregorius and Gio Urshela in the sixth, as well as another RBI single from Torres in the seventh. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

Urshela dazzles on defense, stays in game after injury scare

Urshela has had a knack for magnificent defense at third base this season, and Wednesday was no exception as Urshela made a handful of spectacular plays, including one where he threw from a seated position. Not only that, but he also knocked his seventh homer of the year in the sixth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

“If there was a camera on me in the dugout [as Urshela made his plays], you would’ve seen a lot of excitement,” Boone said. “It was special. Some big-time plays over there by him. We’ve seen it all year. We’ve seen him make some really, really special plays that not a lot of guys do, frankly. And then swinging the bat really well tonight, big homer to extend the lead. He was great.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

However, that home run almost took away Urshela’s chances at more defensive wizardry -- including that seated-position play, which came in the eighth. While rounding the bases on the home run, Urshela felt his left glute tighten up, and he went down for treatment after reaching the dugout.

Boone said that he initially thought they were taking him out of the game but was told to wait, and Urshela emerged from the clubhouse and took the field after some stretching with a trainer. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

“That made it more impressive … that play he made from the seat of his pants followed that, where he was a little banged up out there,” Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

German wasn’t in the game for the eighth-inning play, but he also benefited from Urshela’s defense earlier in the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

“In my humble opinion, I think he’s a candidate to win the Gold Glove there at third base,” German said through a translator. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-beat-mets

With the win, the Yankees improve to 55-29 on the season.

Meanwhile the Mets were on the other end of the spectrum in the finale of the Subway Series.

It spoke to the malleability of the Mets’ best-laid plans that, in the seventh inning of their 5-1 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday, Steven Matz was the reliever who trotted out of the bullpen. A charter member of what was supposed to be one of Major League Baseball’s most vaunted rotations, Matz shifted to relief work this week in what manager Mickey Callaway -- sort of -- called a temporary move. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

Matz’s bullpen debut at Citi Field proved brief and effective. With two men on base and two outs in the seventh, he threw four pitches to lefty-swinging shortstop Didi Gregorius, inducing an inning-ending groundout on a 94.3-mph sinker. Half an inning later, Callaway removed Matz for a pinch-hitter to complete the lefty’s first scoreless outing since April. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

“It was definitely different,” Matz said. “You come in, the lights are on instead of the sun still [being] up, stuff like that. It’s definitely a different look. But at the end of the day, it’s still, you’ve got to go out there and pitch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

While Callaway said Matz should return to the rotation after the All-Star break, he hesitated multiple times when asked if that’s certain, going as far as to indicate that Matz could stay in the bullpen longer. For now, consider such a prolonged residency unlikely, if only because the Mets have few options to fill in for him in the rotation. But also consider it telling. In the six starts prior to his bullpen shift, Matz was 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

“A little inconsistent, some blowup outings, but I think I’ve made some good strides this year,” said Matz, describing his season to date. “I’m happy with where I’m at.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

The Mets were already trailing by four runs when Matz made his relief debut, largely because starting pitcher Jason Vargas allowed hits to three of the first five batters he faced. The Mets also accomplished next to nothing against Yankees starter Domingo German, save for Jeff McNeil, who hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

It was an ideal spot for Matz to enter, with Callaway making sure to give the lifelong starter plenty of advance notice. The only difference in his routine? Matz did not long toss on the outfield grass, which he considered superfluous given the hot, sticky conditions -- 85 degrees at first pitch -- at Citi Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

“I feel great,” Matz said afterward. “I feel like I can pitch every day like that, so we’ll just see what happens.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

Theoretically, this assignment is temporary. Wanting to give red-hot Zack Wheeler an extra start before the All-Star break, the Mets bumped Matz from their rotation earlier this week. When Matz talked things over with pitching strategist Jeremy Accardo, the two decided that Matz should volunteer to pitch out of the bullpen in the interim. It was an idea that “excited” him for two reasons: not only was it something different, but it also gave Matz a chance to bring some of his recent side work into big league games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

For a night, it all went swimmingly. For the future, time will tell. Although Callaway called this a short-term change, he brushed aside multiple chances to confirm Matz will return to the rotation after the break. Even Matz said that while he believes he’ll rejoin the starting five, he’s “not really sure.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

“I’m open to anything,” Matz said. “I really am. Honestly, whatever I can do to do the best I can to help the team win, that’s what I’m going to do. I like starting. That’s what I know. It’s what I’ve always done. I enjoy it. But I like pitching. So just whenever I can, I’ll go out there and pitch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/steven-matz-makes-bullpen-debut-in-mets-loss

With the loss the Mets who are a member of the National League East drop to 39-48 on the season.