A Day of Almosts


For seven innings on Sunday, Domingo Germán was the story in baseball. No hits, just two baserunners (a walk and a runner reaching on a passed ball) and a domination performance over the first place Red Sox. Six outs away from a win that would earn the Yankees a weekend split with their fiercest rival. Two innings away from proclaiming that the pitcher won 18 games before a domestic violence incident ended his 2019 season was "back."

It's Tony Orlando time again: cue his '60s classic "Halfway to Paradise." 

As the lyrics cry out so poignantly: "so near and so far away." Alex Verdugo led off the Boston half of the 8th with a double to the right field wall, ending Germán's day and ushering in Jonathan Loaisiga who was touched up for four consecutive hits. None of them crushed, but the building blocks for the Red Sox winning rally. With the tying run coming home on an infield grounder and the go-ahead run plated on Xander Bogaerts' sacrifice fly, Boston won their third game out of four and handed the Yankees their most painful loss in a season that Aaron Boone had already described as being full of "gut punches."

Funny, if Friday's or Saturday's game had been rained out; Domingo Germán would have had his moment and the Yankees would have a had a win. Even if the commissioner wouldn't have dubbed it a no-hitter, the temporary rules would leave that impression. 

But that's why baseball games ought to be nine innings. It's a test -- three times (or more) through an opposing lineup. 27 outs needed for a win.

(My images of Germán are from the Yankees/Phillies game on July 20th.)


 

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