Aaron Boone asked Cam Schlittler before he left Yankee Stadium on Wednesday if he was ready for his Game 3 start.
Schlittler’s response: “Oh yeah.”
And that he was.
The young right-hander was absolutely spectacular, making history in just the first postseason outing of his big-league career, helping the Yankees advance to the ALDS with a victory over the rival Red Sox on Thursday night.
“We had to be perfect, because he was perfect tonight,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
Schlittler was in complete control from the get-go — he touched 100 mph six times in the top of the first, then struck out five batters and held Boston to just a Masataka Yoshida opposite-field single the first time through the order.
His lone sign of trouble came after the offense handed him a 4-0 lead in the fourth, as Boston pieced together a pair of fifth inning singles, but he was able to get Jaren Duran to chase an inside fastball to escape without any damage.
Schlittler worked around a leadoff single in the sixth, then pieced together a perfect top of the seventh, finished off with a swinging strike out of Wilyer Abreu on a 99 mph fastball on his 100th pitch of the night.
And just when it looked like his night was done, the 24-year-old came storming back out of the Yankees’ dugout for the top of the eighth, which went down as a seven-pitch inning to bring his outstanding outing to an end.
“It was an epic environment really,” Schlittler said. “Once in a lifetime opportunity, I’m just going to make sure I take it all in — it’s definitely a dream to play Boston in the playoffs and be able to end their season.”
The righty became the first pitcher in MLB history to put together eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks in a playoff game.
His 12 K’s are also the most-ever by a Yankees rookie in the postseason.
“He didn’t make it more than it was but also realized the importance,” Boone said. “When you throw 100 with command and can land your secondary pitches, you can be a problem. That’s what he’s capable of — I’m honestly not surprised.”
