The Yankees dropped a 9-0 drubbing on the Red Sox on Tuesday night, taking Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series thanks to a historic performance from Cam Schlittler and a massive night at the plate for Ben Rice. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement that left the Boston faithful absolutely stunned.
Schlittler Mastered the Olde Towne Team Yet Again
Seriously, what even *is* Cam Schlittler doing to the Red Sox? This dude is a nightmare for Boston, and Tuesday night was no different. He delivered another playoff gem, allowing no runs and just seven hits in 14.1 innings across two postseason starts against the Sox. He’s punched out 22 batters and walked only one. His career ERA against them, including the postseason, sits at a ridiculous 0.47, giving up just two earned runs in 38.2 innings over six starts. Talk about having a team’s number!
His three fastballs, a four-seam, cutter, and sinker, were absolutely cooking. The very first pitch he threw clocked in at a blazing 101 miles per hour. But here’s the kicker: his curveball, usually just 10 percent of his arsenal, was nearly three times that usage on Tuesday. It was a nasty finishing pitch, completing four of his 10 strikeouts, and he was so dialed in he even tossed it twice in a row sometimes. Baseball Savant says he got 24 swings-and-misses. He navigated a 10-pitch battle with Adley Rutschman in the first, then retired the next 13 batters before a walk in the fifth. He finished the sixth inning with his 107th pitch, a cutter that wiped out Rutschman for strikeout number 10, matching his career high. Even after giving up a single in the seventh, the sellout crowd of 48,437 sent him off with a standing ovation and “M-V-P” chants. You love to see it.
Ben Rice Stepped Up Big Time
With Aaron Judge out of this series because of a calf injury, the Yankees needed someone to step up. Ben Rice said, “Hold my beer.” The guy went 4-for-5 with six RBI, absolutely tearing into the Red Sox pitching. All four of his hits were clocked at 106.4 miles per hour off the bat or harder, including a grand slam off Brayan Bello that left the bat at 108.6 mph. He also mashed a solo homer. What a night! It was a huge performance, especially considering both Rice and Schlittler are Massachusetts natives making their mark against the Olde Towne Team. The Yankees’ lefty-leaning lineup, which has been successful against left-handed pitching all year with a 36-20 record in those games, kept that trend going against Red Sox southpaw Payton Tolle. Even Austin Wells, who’s been batting .122 against lefties, knocked in the first run.
This 9-0 rout means the Yankees are up 1-0 in the Wild Card Series. Game 2 is next, and the Red Sox have to figure out how to crack Schlittler’s code, or at least keep Ben Rice in the park. If New York keeps this kind of energy, Boston is in for a seriously tough fight to stay alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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