Schlittler merely 'pretty solid'? Royals would beg to differ

NEW YORK – The plaudits in the Yankees’ clubhouse were centered around Ryan McMahon, and deservedly so after the infielder’s late two-run homer powered a victory. Cam Schlittler seemed happy to yield the spotlight to his slumping teammate.

Yet early, it looked like Schlittler might be the one hoisting the team’s championship belt, indicative of the team’s most valued contributor. While the right-hander offered a mostly positive review of his outing in a 4-2 Bombers victory, calling it “pretty solid,” the Royals were more effusive.

“Especially the first time you see him, it’s unique,” said Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro. “He’s big [6-foot-6]; it’s a high release. Good extension, good carry. He wasn’t dotting the zone. He throws a ton of strikes, but some of them run more than you think. Some of them cut a little bit more. I mean, it’s a tough at-bat.”

Now boasting a 1.95 ERA across five starts, Schlittler came out of the gate hot, retiring the first 11 batters he faced over six-plus innings.

Supported by Ben Rice’s two-run homer, Schlittler struck out six and allowed one unearned run on three hits with two walks. No runner reached until Vinnie Pasquantino’s two-out single in the fourth inning.

“It’s an elite fastball,” Pasquantino said. “He doesn’t shy away from it with the percentages. He does a good job of controlling the top rail of the strike zone and going up above. It’s not that often a guy that tall is able to do the things he was able to do. He’s one of the best pitchers in the game right now.”

The two walks were uncharacteristic for Schlittler, who has now issued just three free passes among 105 batters faced, but he said he was “not bothered” by them.

“It happens,” Schlittler said. “I think they were both competitive pitches, so you’ve got to execute and get ahead in the count, then go from there.”

Kansas City pushed across an unearned run in the fifth. Maikel Garcia worked a one-out walk and Bobby Witt Jr. lifted a deep fly ball near the center-field wall.

Trent Grisham was unable to make the play, the ball smacking off his glove for a two-base error.

“I think he got a little turned around, playing the wind a little too much or not enough,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He just didn’t secure it.”

Pasquantino chopped a grounder that brought the run home.

In the seventh, Schlittler faced two hitters and allowed both to reach: Carter Jensen walked and Lane Thomas hit a ground-ball single through the right side. Schlittler exited to a warm ovation after a season-high 93 pitches (63 strikes).

Brent Headrick retired the next three batters, stranding both inherited runners.

“I thought Cam was great,” Boone said. “Maybe he got a little fatigued there at the end; a longer sixth inning. But overall, I thought he was on point and really, really good tonight.”

It represented a nice bounceback for Schlittler, who had allowed six runs and 12 hits over 10 innings in his previous two starts after firing 11 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits allowed to begin the season.

“I’m still building up,” said Schlittler, who was delayed this spring due to back and lat discomfort. “Overall, I felt pretty good.”