Maybe Aaron Boone should have listened.
The fans ended up being prescient.
They loudly booed the Yankees’ manager as he walked to the mound to take Domingo German out of the game in the top of the ninth inning of the team’s gut-wrenching 3-2 loss in The Bronx on Monday evening.
Boone would’ve been better off adhering to the crowd’s wishes and turning back toward the dugout.
Because once German’s day was officially done, only disaster awaited the Yankees.
Leading 2-0, German was cruising through likely the best outing of his career when Boone decided to yank him with just 88 pitches thrown.
He had tossed eight near-perfect scoreless innings and struck out Myles Straw to start the ninth before everything changed in a heartbeat.
German then gave up a single to Steven Kwan, and Boone immediately opted to bring in closer Clay Holmes to secure the final two outs.
“Of course you want the opportunity to finish the game,” German said through a translator. “But at the same time, you understand the decision the manager makes. I’m never gonna disagree when he comes out.”
An error and two hits later, the game was tied 2-2. Wandy Peralta then came in to pitch, and subsequently walked-in the decisive run three batters later.
Just like that, German’s 8 ¹/₃-inning gem was spoiled, and he went from being the hero of a necessary bounce-back win to a helpless spectator of one of, if not the worst, loss of an already scuffling Yankees season.
He surrendered just one earned run, one walk and two hits along with six strikeouts.
It was the longest outing of German’s six-year career.
He received a standing ovation and saluted the crowd as he exited the field for the final time.
“I think the biggest adjustment today was the fastball command,” German said. “I was able to spot it in low areas, good areas. Off of that, the secondary pitches [were successful]. [I was] confident, executing the curveball and the changeup tonight. … Phenomenal rhythm out there.”
When asked if this is the best he’s ever pitched in the majors, both German and Boone mentioned his July 25, 2021, start against the Red Sox, when he carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning as another candidate.
Like Monday night, though, the Yankees collapsed and lost after German was pulled in that game.
Entering the night with a 5.54 ERA and coming off his worst start of the season, it’s a major positive sign that German can turn his struggles around and find needed consistency.
He was on the cusp of securing the Yankees’ second complete game this season.
Instead, he was left to watch the latest mess unfold.
“I just didn’t want him to be in a situation where he wasn’t gonna do anything but win that game,” Boone said. “It felt like it was the right decision to do in the moment.”
