NEW YORK – All these years later, there’s still a palpable jolt of energy when the Subway Series rolls around. Manhattan’s avenues were flooded by rivalry caps as the weekend closed in, and by dusk, each pitch could be seen on an ultra-high-definition Times Square billboard that spanned an entire city block.
Cam Schlittler couldn’t have asked for a better setting. The young right-hander continued to build upon his burgeoning reputation for owning the bright lights, dazzling with a nine-strikeout performance in his Subway Series debut as the Yankees defeated the Mets, 5-2, on Friday evening at Citi Field.
“It’s fun,” Schlittler said. “I think you’re going to be a little extra locked in for situations like this. Those don’t faze me, and I know that doesn’t faze the guys around here. There’s a lot of buzz around it. It’s a great atmosphere, and it was good to get the win.”
Juan Soto’s seventh-inning homer was the only blemish against Schlittler, who improved to 6-1 with a Major League-leading 1.35 ERA across 10 starts.
Given his track record in high-profile environments, particularly his winning effort in Game 3 of last year’s American League Wild Card Series over the Red Sox, it’s difficult to be surprised that Schlittler delivered again.
“He is pitching like an ace,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I don’t think Cam is affected by much, other than going out and that he expects to dominate and pitch well.”
Already, the 25-year-old is being heralded as a leading contender for the American League Cy Young Award.
“Cam is sick,” said Jazz Chisholm Jr., who contributed three hits and two RBIs to the victory. “He goes out there and dominates every game, and you can see it on the mound.”
Schlittler threw a season-high 106 pitches (71 for strikes), permitting two hits and two walks, shifting momentum after a six-game swing through Milwaukee and Baltimore that produced just one victory.
Ben Rice added his 14th homer in the ninth, a resetting effort after the Yankees learned they would be without Max Fried for several weeks. The left-hander landed on the 15-day injured list with a bone bruise in his pitching elbow.
At least the Yankees have a clock on Gerrit Cole, with the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner expected to make two more Minor League starts before returning.
“We have two of our big dogs that were out,” Schlittler said. “Carlos [Rodón] is back, and Gerrit is close. So as unfortunate as the situation is, it’ll be good to get Gerrit back in there, and hopefully the staff will continue to dominate.”
If it does, a major piece of the equation will continue to be Schlittler, who was backed by a three-run third inning built by Cody Bellinger’s RBI double and Chisholm’s two-run double.
Schlittler’s only weakness might be an apparent magnetism for baseballs. For the third consecutive start, he was hit by a comebacker. This time, Luis Torrens clipped Schlittler on the left foot with a liner that kicked to shortstop Anthony Volpe, who fired to first base for the putout.
That ball hit the bottom of Schlittler’s cleat, to the relief of those watching from the dugout. Mark Vientos nicked him again in the seventh, a groundout that was deflected to Chisholm.
“It’s tough,” Schlittler said. “The left leg is taking a beating, a little bit. I’d hope it stops, but it probably doesn’t look too likely.”
Schlittler offered a bigger scare in the fourth on the back end of a terrific defensive play to throw out Vientos on a slow roller up the third-base line. As Schlittler lay on the infield grass, Boone said he yelled, “Get your [rear] up.”
“I think he likes the drama of it sometimes, too,” Boone said. “He’s a bit of a showman.”
The Yankees could laugh about that, but the other side provided a sobering reminder of how quickly a season can flip.
The Mets’ Clay Holmes sustained a fractured right fibula after being hit by Spencer Jones’ 111.1 mph liner in the fourth inning. Impressively, Holmes remained in the game to face seven more batters.
“I’m sorry,” Jones said. “He’s a friend of mine; we work out in Nashville together. That’s tough to hear.”
No wonder Boone said he joked with Schlittler that they need to send him out for his next start with a protective L-screen in place. With the way Schlittler is pitching, the Yankees can’t afford any interruptions to what is shaping up as a dream season.
“Again, it’s a lot of fun to be a part of,” Schlittler said.