NEW YORK — Aaron Boone felt confident with starter Domingo German entering Saturday’s game on Jackie Robinson Day, saying before the first pitch that the righty was in a good spot against the Twins.
And German delivered.
The right-hander bounced back after two rough outings to start the season, pitching a perfect game through 6 1/3 innings in the 6-1 win over the Twins. He threw 78 pitches and recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts.
“He’s coming off a tough outing,” Boone said pregame. “He’s just got to bounce back from that.”
German cruised and benefitted from an early 2-0 lead from Kyle Higashioka’s second homer of the season. Higashioka got the start behind the plate in place of Jose Trevino.
Before German’s perfect game was broken up, he was stopped by umpires in the top of the fourth inning. The delay halted play for a few minutes before umpires gave the green light to resume. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli seemed unhappy with the clearance and was ejected from the ballgame.
The topic of the discussion was unclear at the time, but umpires seemed to be checking German’s hand and glove.
The Twins got their first hit of the game after former Red Sox catcher Christian Vasquez singled up the middle in the sixth. No. 9 hitter Michael Taylor singled afterwards — his fourth hit of the series — but Minnesota wasn’t able to convert any runs in the inning.
German was checked again after the top of the sixth and was quickly cleared. His outing ended in the seventh inning, as he finished giving up three hits, no walks and one earned run. German exited to applause from the home crowd, prompting him to clap along with the fans.
Twins starter Tyler Mahle had a pain-free first inning but failed to pick up a ground ball hit by Franchy Cordero in the second, allowing the Yankee newcomer to reach first safely. Mahle was charged with an error that led to Higashioka’s two-run homer.
Anthony Rizzo’s fourth homer of the season was a shot right over the right-field porch and extended the lead to 3-0. The lefty now has three home runs in four games as he took advantage of the Twins’ righties this series.
Twins third baseman Jose Miranda got his team on the board in the seventh with an RBI double to left off of Michael King, scoring outfielder Trevor Larnach.
DJ LeMahieu returned to the lineup hitting leadoff and recorded an RBI single in the fifth inning that scored rookie Anthony Volpe. Volpe got on base after drawing a walk. He then stole second base before LeMahieu’s single.
Giancarlo Stanton avoided a hitless day after hitting a two-run rocket off reliever Jorge Alcala that bounced off the wall in left-center field. The lead was extended to 6-1 and Stanton was replaced by Aaron Hicks.
King carried the Bombers through three innings following German’s departure, allowing two hits and striking out two.
The Yankees will get a chance to even the series Sunday with what is expected to be a pitching duel. Gerrit Cole is expected to take the mound for the Yankees and lefty Pablo Lopez will take the mound for the Twins.
