NEW YORK – Cam Schlittler was practically snarling as he stood at his clubhouse locker on Sunday at Tropicana Field, kicking himself for “making the wrong pitches” too many times.
The Yankees’ right-hander didn’t have that problem on Friday night, especially early. Schlittler came out of the gate hot, retiring the first 11 Royals he faced over six-plus innings under the lights at Yankee Stadium.
Supported by Ben Rice’s two-run homer, Schlittler struck out six and allowed one unearned run on three hits with two walks, not permitting a runner to reach until Vinnie Pasquantino’s two-out single in the fourth inning.
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.
Pasquantino chopped a grounder that brought the run home. In the seventh, Schlittler faced two hitters and allowed both to reach: Carter Jensen walked (just Schlittler’s third free pass of the year) and Lane Thomas hit a ground-ball single through the right side.
Brent Headrick retired the next three batters, stranding both inherited runners.
Schlittler exited to a warm ovation after a season-high 93 pitches (63 strikes). He 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.