Domingo German just made his first career MLB start against the Cleveland Indians and the Yankees couldn't be any happier with his performance replacing an injured Jordan Montgomery. Mike Clevinger got the ball for the Indians and matched the young German throughout the game to continue his good start to the 2018 campaign. Today (May 6) was also the first game that Giancarlo Stanton was not in the lineup because of rest.
Game recap
The game went into the bottom of the fifth before either team recorded a base hit with Aaron Hicks leading off with a single up the middle.
Hicks failed to score due to a double play hit by Miguel Andujar and a strikeout by Tyler Austin to end the inning. Domingo German made the most of his time in the rotation with an incredible six innings without giving up a single hit, two walks, and nine strikeouts. He was relieved after 84 pitches due to not being stretched out as a starter.
Dellin Betances came into the game in the top of the seventh in relief of German and threw a perfect inning, including two strikeouts. Manager Aaron Boone let Betances come out for the eighth inning as well, where the Indians' Yonder Alonso beat the shift to lead off the inning and record the team's first hit of the day. Rajai Davis went in to run for Alonso and Yan Gomes golfed a ball to center field for a single.
Davis stole third to make it runners on the corners with no outs, which forced the Yankees to move the infield in. Tyler Naquin got an RBI single to make it 1-0 Indians. Johnathan Holder came in to shut down the inning, but Francisco Lindor hit an RBI double to make it 2-0. A passed ball allowed the Indians to make it 3-0 and the sacrifice fly by Jason Kipnis made it 4-0.
Mike Clevinger, for the Indians, pitched a gem as well, throwing 116 pitches in 7 1/3 innings while only allowing one hit, but two runs scored with four walks and ten strikeouts. The Indians went to their closer for the five-out save with runners on first and second. The Yankees wouldn't go down without a fight as with a full count, Brett Gardner ripped a single to center field and made the game 4-1.
Aaron Judge was swinging for the fences but cut down with two strikes and hit a liner to right field that Naquin couldn't handle on a drive that allowed both runners to score on the two-RBI double to make it 4-3.
Chasen Shreve came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning for the Yankees to throw a perfect inning with two strikeouts. The Indians kept Allen in the game. Aaron Hicks led off the inning with a double over the center fielder's head. Neil Walker hit an RBI double to tie the game at four. Gleyber Torres hit his second career home run off of Dan Otero, who came in relief of Allen, on a shot into the Yankees' bullpen to make it a 7-4 game for the series sweep of the Tribe.
Clutch hitting for the Yankees
During the Yankees' stretch since the last homestand, the Yankees' bats have been clicking with the game on the line. The team has won a handful of games in their 15-1 stretch in the ninth inning or later, including today with Gleyber Torres hitting a walk-off homer to sweep the Indians and win the game 7-4. The never say die attitude is huge for a team and now have won six-of-seven against the AL West and AL Central-leading teams going into a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday (May 8).