In a remarkable feat of pitching prowess, Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán etched his name into baseball history Wednesday night, delivering Major League Baseball's first perfect game since 2012. Germán's flawless performance led the Yankees to an 11-0 shutout victory over the Oakland Athletics.

This extraordinary achievement marks the 24th perfect game in MLB history and the first since Seattle Mariner Félix Hernández accomplished the feat against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 15, 2012. An elated Germán expressed his joy after the game, stating, "It's incredibly exciting. A perfect game is a rare opportunity in baseball, and to achieve this in my career is a memory I'll cherish forever."

Germán joins an elite group of Yankees pitchers who have thrown perfect games, including Don Larsen (1956), David Wells (1998), and David Cone (1999). This also marks the Yankees as the first franchise with four perfect games, surpassing the Chicago White Sox who have three.

During his masterful performance, Germán also reached a career milestone, securing his 500th strikeout. His efficient 99-pitch game included 72 strikes, showcasing a masterful mix of 51 curveballs, 30 fastballs, 17 changeups, and a single sinker. He rarely allowed batters to gain an advantage, only reaching three balls on a batter twice.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Germán's performance, highlighting his command and control. "It was a joy to watch him work. We've seen him come close to outings like this before, and when he's in a groove like tonight, he's a master of his craft. His command of all his pitches was exceptional, and his curveball was especially effective."

The tension mounted in the ninth inning as Germán stood on the cusp of history. With two quick outs, Esteury Ruiz represented the final obstacle. As Ruiz grounded out to third baseman Josh Donaldson, the Yankees dugout erupted, and Germán's teammates rushed to the mound to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Reflecting on the final inning, Germán admitted, "It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. The pressure was immense, but the reward was even greater. The key was to maintain my composure and execute my pitches."

A’s leadoff hitter Tony Kemp acknowledged Germán's dominance, particularly his curveball. "He could throw his curveball in any count, and it had incredible movement. He located his fastball and changeup effectively as well. We had a few good swings, but we couldn't get any results."

This historic performance came just days after Germán had a challenging outing against the Mariners, giving up a career-high 10 runs. Boone acknowledged the significance of Germán's rebound, saying, "It hasn't been an easy week for him. For him to deliver such a masterful performance tonight was truly special."

Adding to the Yankees' offensive firepower, Giancarlo Stanton hit his first home run in over two weeks, driving in three runs. Donaldson also contributed three RBIs against his former team. Higashioka had an RBI double and scored along with Volpe and LeMahieu.

The victory snapped a six-game losing streak against the A’s, who currently hold the worst record in the majors. The Yankees have dominated recent matchups against the A's, winning 15 of 21 games dating back to August 31, 2019.

This perfect game marks a significant personal triumph for Germán, who has faced adversity in his career. After a successful 2019 season, he was placed on administrative leave following an MLB investigation into an alleged domestic violence incident. He missed the entire 2020 season due to suspension. More recently, he served a 10-game suspension for using an illegal sticky substance.

Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka expressed his happiness for Germán, stating, "I'm thrilled for Domingo. He's had some tough outings recently, and I always believed he had the potential for a performance like this. For it all to come together tonight is incredible."

Germán dedicated his historic performance to his uncle, who passed away two days prior. "I was thinking about him throughout the game," Germán shared. "This game is a tribute to him. He would have been overjoyed."