Schlittler has hometown hiccup when error opens floodgates at Fenway

BOSTON – Cam Schlittler grew up some 30 miles outside Boston’s limits in the green suburb of Walpole, Mass., constantly envisioning what it would be like to pitch from the slope of Fenway Park’s mound.

Nights like this weren’t what he had in mind.

Schlittler showcased the high-octane arsenal that continues to fuel his All-Star candidacy, but his latest homecoming went awry. Amed Rosario’s fifth-inning error opened the door for four unearned runs, including a Caleb Durbin homer, in the Yankees’ 6-3 loss to the Red Sox on Thursday.

“At the end of the day, I was giving them opportunities,” Schlittler said. “I felt like I battled those first four, getting myself out of jams, and then I ended up making that mistake in the fifth.”

The Yankees committed a season-high four errors while picking up an odd and unwelcome bit of history. It marked the franchise’s first game allowing six unearned runs or more – but no earned runs – since July 21, 1913, when it did it against the Tigers in Detroit.

“We just didn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball tonight,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s just not up to the way we’ve been playing, or capable of playing. Ultimately, it was too much to overcome.”

Supported by Jasson Domínguez’s run-scoring single in the first inning and José Caballero’s fourth-inning solo homer off Connelly Early, Schlittler navigated traffic without damage until the fifth, when he walked Masataka Yoshida and permitted a Ceddanne Rafaela single.

After a strikeout, Willson Contreras smoked a 112.8 mph grounder through Rosario’s legs at third base for a run-scoring error. Boone said that ball was “in fairness, absolutely lathered.”

“Definitely a play there that I’ve just got to make,” Rosario said through interpreter Marlon Abreu. “I take responsibility there. When you look at the play, you’ve got to find a way to knock it down and at least get one out.”

Jarren Duran followed with a shallow fly ball to left field, prompting Rafaela to test Caballero’s arm. Versatility is one of Caballero’s strengths, and he has been seeing more time in the outfield while Trent Grisham recovers from a right hamstring strain.

Caballero’s throw (from 243 feet) trailed up the third-base line, allowing Rafaela to tie the score.

“They’ve been challenging me a lot,” Caballero said. “They know I’m kind of new in the outfield. I was expecting him to go, and he did. … I thought I put good velo on it. It was just a little up the line.”

Durbin followed with a two-run homer that cleared the Green Monster in left field. Though the ball wasn’t particularly well-hit (91.4 mph exit velocity), it carried, and Schlittler blamed his location.

“Not down and in where he likes it,” Schlittler said. “He’d seen a lot of cutters today, and he made a good enough swing to get it out there.”

Because all four runs off Schlittler were unearned, his ERA dropped, from 1.71 to 1.62. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the second-lowest mark by a Yankee through his first 17 starts of a season since earned runs became an official stat in 1913, behind only Ray Caldwell (1.60, 1914).

That provided no consolation for Schlittler, who scattered five hits, walking two and striking out nine. Even before the fifth, it was an odd outing for Schlittler, who committed a throwing error on a first-inning pickoff attempt and allowed a Durbin pop-up to fall in front of him for an infield hit in the second.

“The ball was just kind of sitting there. That’s miscommunication,” Schlittler said. “I’ve got to own that one, just giving them opportunities.”

Thursday marked Schlittler’s fourth career start against the Red Sox, including last year’s Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series. He has allowed no more than one earned run in any start against Boston, pitching to a 0.67 ERA (two earned runs in 26 2/3 innings).

Boston added two unearned runs in the eighth that were charged to Yerry de los Santos.

The Yankees showed life in the ninth, loading the bases against Aroldis Chapman – their first time seeing the Boston closer since he opined that he would need to hear an apology from general manager Brian Cashman before considering a midseason trade back to the Bronx.

That isn’t likely to happen anytime soon, suggesting the Yankees will look elsewhere for relief help ahead of the Trade Deadline. Chapman induced Ben Rice to ground out for the final out, securing his 15th save.

“It’s always tough when we lose,” Caballero said. “The good thing is, there’s always tomorrow.”