NEW YORK – Just before Wednesday night’s game, general manager Brian Cashman entered the Yankees clubhouse and addressed the team about Domingo German’s status.
Having voluntarily agreed to inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse, German would not pitch again this season.
“In some way, this goes back years,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, referencing an incident of domestic violence in 2019 that led to MLB’s 81-game suspension of German.
“I think all of us have someone in our life that we can relate to, that it’s always an ongoing battle’’ with alcohol, Boone said.
An unspecified Tuesday incident involving German had raised enough alarms that a meeting was held at Yankee Stadium, attended by Cashman, shortly after the 6 p.m. MLB trade deadline.
Speaking after the Yankees’ 7-2 win Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, Giancarlo Stanton said it was “just a tough situation,’’ but that he “kind of understood’’ why German was on the restricted list and submitted to treatment.
“You’re aware of (what occurred Tuesday). You’re not going to get any details from me,’’ said Stanton, who smashed a two-run homer in a five-run third inning.
Yankees’ emotional pregame briefing on Domingo German
Prior to Stanton’s three-run homer, Anthony Volpe belted a two-run shot off Rays lefty starter Shane McLanahan (11-2).
After the game, McLanahan – who yielded five runs in four innings – was sent back to Florida for tests, having experienced forearm tightness Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole (10-2) shrugged off a monstrous, two-run homer in the first by Wander Franco.
Relying more on his curveball and cutter, Cole lasted seven innings, received some fine outfield defense by Harrison Bader and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and helped the Yanks snap a three-game losing streak.
But it wasn’t a normal pregame by any stretch, with Cole mentioning the emotional situation involving German.
“You care about your teammates and your teammates families,’’ said Cole.
“(It’s) a sad situation and you just hope for the best for him,’’ Cole said of “an element besides sports where things are bigger than that.’’
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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Domingo German: Yankees react to alcohol treatment news