NEW YORK -- One word came to mind when describing Cam Schlittler's season thus far: “Phenomenal.”
That was manager Aaron Boone’s take ahead of Friday’s start against the Red Sox, when the young right-hander gave his team another solid performance in a potential postseason preview, reaching the 200-strikeout plateau for the first time in his career in the Yankees’ 1-0 victory over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
Facing Boston for the fourth time this season, the American League Cy Young Award candidate continued to deal against the franchise he once rooted for as a child growing up in Massachusetts, permitting just two hits while striking out eight over 5 2/3 innings.
Cody Bellinger preserved the lead with a terrific throw to end the top of the seventh inning, with Ceddanne Rafaela tagged out at home plate on the back end of the double play.
Bellinger’s 99.7 mph throw was the Yankees’ third-fastest-tracked outfield assist under Statcast (2015), behind Aaron Hicks (105.5 mph, 2016) and Aaron Judge (100.5 mph, 2018).
Supported by Paul Goldschmidt’s third-inning homer off Patrick Sandoval and helped by an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning that eliminated traffic, Schlittler became the fourth-youngest Yankee to record a 200-strikeout season, behind Al Downing, Luis Severino and Bob Turley.
Schlittler tied a season high with five walks issued. That led to a climbing pitch count, and Boone hooked Schlittler after a two-out free pass to Caleb Durbin in the sixth.
Brent Headrick pitched out of the jam despite a walk and infield hit in relief of Schlittler, who threw 102 pitches (63 for strikes).
Including last year’s Wild Card Series Game 3 clincher, Schlittler has an 0.55 ERA (2 ER in 32 1/3 IP) in five career starts against Boston.