Aaron Boone Praises Cam Schlittler After Yankees’ Dominant Game 1 Victory Over Red Sox
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone delivered high praise for Cam Schlittler after the right-hander produced a dominant performance in the Yankees’ 9-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Schlittler turned in one of the most impressive postseason outings of his young career, pitching 6⅓ scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and one walk. He struck out 10 batters and threw a career-high 117 pitches.
Boone particularly praised Schlittler’s curveball, describing it as likely the best version of the pitch he had seen from the young starter all season. The Yankees manager also defended the decision to send Schlittler back onto the mound for the seventh inning, although he later admitted that he may have pushed his starter a little too far.
The 117-pitch outing was the most by a Yankees postseason starter since CC Sabathia threw 121 pitches in the 2012 American League Division Series.
Schlittler also continued his remarkable success against Boston. After Tuesday’s performance, his career ERA against the Red Sox dropped to 0.47 over six starts.
The Yankees received plenty of offensive firepower as well. Ben Rice went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs, including a massive eighth-inning grand slam. George Lombard Jr. also recorded three hits in his postseason debut.
The victory gives New York a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series and puts the Yankees one win away from advancing to the American League Division Series.
Max Fried is scheduled to start Game 2 for New York against Boston’s Sonny Gray on Wednesday.
With Schlittler setting the tone on the mound and the Yankees’ offense producing nine runs, New York has taken an early advantage in the postseason battle against its longtime rival.
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