Massive MLB Moose: Bullpen Implosion Ruins Yanks-Indians Pitchers’ Duel

The Highlights

• In his first Major League start, Yankees' right-hander Domingo German held the Indians hitless through six innings.
• Not to be outdone, Indians' hurler Mike Clevinger matched German zero-for-zero, giving under bettors every reason to believe they were getting to the window.
• Then the bullpens imploded, rendering under tickets useless.

The Yankees-Indians total opened at 10 before eventually closing anywhere between 8.5 and 9.5 depending on the book.

Domingo German gave Yankee fans — and under 8.5 bettors — a lot to cheer about Sunday, as the 25-year-old threw six no-hit innings and struck out nine in his first Major League start

But Yankees manager Aaron Boone nipped German's no-hit-bid in the bud somewhat early, opting to pull the young pitcher after the sixth inning as he was entrenched in a 0-0 pitchers' duel with Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger.

Boone’s move would backfire for the Yankees. After Dellin Betances worked a scoreless seventh, the first-year Yankee manager allowed the tall righty to begin the eighth. It was not a wise decision.

After giving up three straight hits to start the eighth (and allowing Cleveland to take a 1-0 lead) — Boone pulled Betances and handed the ball to Jonathan Holder. That didn’t exactly put out the fire, either.

By the time the top half of the eighth came to a close, the Indians held a 4-0 lead (with the help of a passed ball that scored a run). Under bettors would have preferred less damage, but they were still in the driver’s seat.

However, the Sunday sweats started when New York answered back, rather swiftly, in the home half of the eighth — posting three two-out runs off the bats of Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge. As the game headed to the ninth inning, the total sat at seven (4-3 Indians).

STILL, if the ninth inning would just remain scoreless … under bettors could escape with a winning ticket. Unfortunately, for those that wagered on Under 9.5, it would not.

And if you can believe it, yep, the Yanks would find a way to win AGAIN in the ninth inning … AGAIN, thanks to 21-year-old Gleyber Torres — who is quickly evolving from rising superstar to full-blown diety in the Bronx.

GLEYBER TORRES HITS A WALK-OFF HOME RUN! #YANKEES WIN AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/kbRrIP2XAB

— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) May 6, 2018

After back to back doubles to lead off the bottom of the ninth tied the game, 4-4, (and, for all intents and purposes, toasted under 8.5 tickets), Torres hammered home the final nail in the coffin for both under and Indians ML/RL backers, sending Yankees fans and over bettors home happy with a walk-off three-run homer.

Final score: 7-4. Under tickets: cooked.

Reminder: There was just one combined hit through the first scoreless seven innings. Brutal.

Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports