Yankees' Spanish radio broadcast of Domingo Germán's perfect game was absolutely electric
It doesn't get more enthusiastic than this.
While the Yankees sent an unorthodox broadcast crew to Oakland for this week's three-game set, everyone present absolutely nailed Wednesday night's completely unexpected historic moment.
Domingo Germán? Throwing a perfect game? After two of the worst starts you'll ever see? In this economy?
Luckily, Ryan Ruocco's televised call on YES Network was predictably fantastic, as was Justin Shackil's radio broadcast. It certainly didn't hurt the moment that both men are dyed-in-the-wool Yankees fans and were Fordham classmates who'll get to cherish this forever.
Don't leave WFAN's Rickie Ricardo out of the accolades, though.
Ricardo was one of John Sterling's temporary replacements last summer on the radio broadcast, but handles WFAN's Spanish language feed on most nights. As Germán became the first Dominican pitcher in MLB history to go 27 up, 27 down, Ricardo put a phenomenal flourish on the evening's unforeseen drama.
Yankees WFAN broadcaster Rickie Ricardo nailed Spanish language call of Domingo Germán's perfect game
Though David Wells' blood was 90% Dominican rum when he threw a perfecto, that technically doesn't count.
Ricardo revved up for the final moment, a hotshot grounder to Josh Donaldson that seemed, off the bat, to have a relatively reasonable chance of scooting through the left side of the infield. Somehow, it found its target expediently instead, allowing Donaldson more than enough time to comfortably rise, fire, and retire the remarkably speedy Esteury Ruiz.
Out. Perfección. Domingo Germán. San Pedro de Macorís. Flawless execution.
That Dominican town is, of course, well known in baseball circles for producing a remarkable amount of talent. Sammy Sosa hailed from there. Tony Fernández. Alfonso Soriano. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Sr. Robinson Canó. Santo Domingo has produced 106 MLB players; San Pedro de Macorís is second at 99, with 10 times smaller a population.
Long known as the "Cradle of Shortstops," on Wednesday night in Oakland, it became the "Cradle of Perfection." Props to Ricardo for making it a part of the game's incredible narrative, at a decibel level Taylor Swift fans would be envious of.