Making the first postseason start in your career is a lot of pressure. Doing it during an elimination game ups the stakes. Facing your team’s most hated rival adds a level of true drama to the mix.
And in the face of all of that, giving up no runs through eight innings while striking out 12 batters and throwing 107 total pitches is downright legendary.
Cam Schlittler did just that on Thursday night, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of their Wild Card matchup. The victory advanced the Yanks to the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays, and after the game Aaron Boone spoke about the performance of his young starter.
“A star is born tonight,” he said. “He’s a special kid, man, I’m telling you. It’s obviously amazing stuff, but he’s shown us this from the jump. He’s not afraid. He expects this. I’m not gonna say what he told me last night, but I’m not at all surprised at what he did.”
Schlittler, 24, made 14 starts for the Yankees during the regular season, finishing 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 73 innings. His ability is obvious enough, in other words, but to mow down a rival in an elimination game—and barely seem as though your pulse jumped even a little—is next level.
A star is born, indeed. If he continues to pitch like this for the Yankees in October, a champion might be crowned as well.
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