Domingo German allows two home runs as Phillies beat Yankees to pick up first victory of season

Domingo German pitched better than his stat line indicated Tuesday night, but the Phillies nonetheless left Yankee Stadium with their first win of the season.

Philadelphia, which won 4-1, jumped on the right-handed German early in his first appearance of 2023. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, the second batter of the game, launched a ball into the right-center field seats for a solo home run. The 2022 National League home run champ showed exactly why Yankees fans have longed to see his left-handed swing call Yankee Stadium home, as Schwarber drove the ball 415 feet at 104.4 miles per hour for the 200th dinger of his career and his first of the season.

Brandon Marsh one-upped his teammate two innings later when the center fielder crushed another German fastball 436 feet at 109.8 mph. Another solo shot, it was also Marsh’s first homer of the season.

“Sometimes when you try to attack with certain pitches, and it’s not exactly the location you want, you pay for it,” German said. “Especially hitters like those. Those guys are really good hitters. When you miss, they’re going to make you pay.”

German pitched fairly well after that, finishing his night with four hits allowed, eight strikeouts and zero walks over 4.2 innings and 75 pitches. Aaron Boone complimented the pitcher’s stuff, especially German’s curveball and changeup.

“I thought it was a strong performance,” the manager said.

However, German was charged with four earned runs after rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe bobbled a would-be double play, recording just one out instead.

“That’s a play that’s gotta be made, and we’re off the field there,” Volpe said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Michael King entered the game after that, but Phillies shortstop Trea Turner welcomed the righty with an RBI single to make it 3-0. Schwarber plated another runner with an RBI single.

Tuesday was King’s second appearance this season, marking his first outings since July 22 after a stress fracture in his right elbow prematurely ended his breakout 2022 campaign. King has shown some rust in his return to the mound; he allowed two earned runs over 1.2 innings in the Yankees’ 7-5 loss to the Giants on Saturday.

“I haven’t been getting it done,” King said. “Mechanically, it feels like my timing’s a little off. And then I’d much rather give up my own runs than Domingo’s. I feel like I spoiled a pretty good start, and it blew the game open.”

While the Phillies had no problem getting to Yankees pitchers, the Bombers were held scoreless until DJ LeMahieu hit a solo homer in the ninth. Philadelphia starter Matt Strahm silenced the team for four innings before turning it over to the bullpen.

Volpe, Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton picked up the Yankees’ only other hits of the night as Philadelphia evened the series at one game apiece while tallying 10 hits.

“He had a presence on the inner half with us,” Boone said of Strahm, who struck out three while allowing one walk and one hit. “He’s got that ride on his fastball, so he was working it well up above the belt and then also spinning it down in the zone. So we had a couple different things to cover.”

The Yankees and Phillies will close out their three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. The getaway day features an enticing matchup between two right-handed aces: the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola.

Cole dazzled in his first start of the year on Opening Day, striking out 11 Giants over six scoreless frames. He set the franchise record for strikeouts in an opener. Fellow UCLA alumni Tim Leary previously set the record at nine in 1991.

Nola was hardly as sharp in his 2023 debut. The Rangers jumped on him for five earned runs, including a three-run home run from outfielder Robbie Grossman. Nola failed to complete four innings in Texas.

Like the Phillies, the Yankees will also skip town following Wednesday’s game. The Yanks begin their first road trip of the season Thursday in Baltimore, where they’ll play three games over four days. Thursday is the Orioles’ home opener, so Friday’s off day is to protect against a rainout.

The Yankees will then play three games in Cleveland against the Guardians before returning home for a three-series homestand, which begins with four games against the Twins.