Massachusetts native Cam Schlittler takes the Fenway Park mound for the first time in his major league career as the New York Yankees aim to complete a three-game series sweep of the Boston Red Sox and extend their season-long win streak to six on Thursday night.
Schlittler (2-1, 1.95 ERA), who hails from Walpole and attended college less than a mile away from Fenway at Northeastern University, enjoyed a memorable rivalry debut last October. He ended Boston’s season by striking out 12 across eight shutout innings in the deciding third game of the American League wild-card round.
After saying that he received death threats and harassment from Red Sox fans via social media over the weekend, Schlittler sang a more excitable tune as he prepared for his dream-come-true back in Boston.
“Being here last year, we got a good feel of how intense it is,” he said before Tuesday’s 4-0, series-opening win. “I think it’s going to be loud, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Schlittler allowed just one unearned run on three hits while striking out six in his Friday no-decision against the Kansas City Royals. The 25-year-old won back-to-back scoreless starts to begin the season, and has now given up zero earned runs in three of his first five outings.
“He’s someone that walks out there with a lot of confidence,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
The Yankees have dominated the first two games of the series, with Luis Gil (6 1/3 innings) and Max Fried (eight innings) dealing back-to-back scoreless starts. Amed Rosario delivered the biggest swing of Wednesday’s 4-1 triumph, crushing a three-run homer in the first inning.
Only Jarren Duran’s two-out single in the ninth inning stood between New York and its third consecutive shutout for the first time since 1962.
“Starting pitching sets the tone for everything,” Boone said. “To get two really good ones to start this series and hand the ball off to (Schlittler) and hopefully have another one (is important). … It’s always good (winning at Fenway). We know how tough this place is to play.”
The Red Sox have been held to one run or fewer on six occasions, including five of their last eight games.
On Wednesday, three of their five hits belonged to Duran.
“Everybody here believes we have a good team. Good teams have to find a way to score runs against good pitching,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “The beauty of this game is that you’ve got to show up tomorrow and prepare and be ready. It’s not going to get any easier.”
The only way out of the rut is to stay consistent and stay together.
“I think that we’re just trying to do too much,” Duran said. “We’re trying to dig ourselves out of a hole. But at the end of the day, I mean, we’re not really in a hole. It’s still early. We still have so much time to just play baseball. And I feel like when we’re at our best is when we’re just playing.”
Following Wednesday’s game, Cora had yet to determine his next starter. Brayan Bello (1-2, 6.75) had his next outing pushed back to Friday’s opener of a six-game road trip against the Baltimore Orioles.
According to MLB.com, left-hander Payton Tolle will be recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his first start with Boston since last postseason.
Another potential option was Eduardo Rivera, but the 22-year-old fellow southpaw arrived from Worcester — though he has not pitched above Double-A Portland — and threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in his MLB debut.
Additionally, Cora expected to have 21-year-old outfielder Roman Anthony available after a sore back sidelined him on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
