Cam Schlittler and Jacob deGrom were born 13 years apart in different parts of the country, but these power pitchers share common bonds: Both were late-bloomer college right-handed pitchers who enjoyed immediate success under the New York spotlight.
Billed as a high-octane pitching duel, Tuesday’s meeting between the Yankees and Rangers at Globe Life Field did not disappoint. Schlittler outlasted deGrom with six scoreless innings, finishing just as he started: throwing accurate strikes with fastballs that reached 99 mph.
The Yankees won the game 3-2 with a great save by David Bernard in the ninth.
In his seventh start of the season, Schlittler lowered his ERA to 1.51 and earned his fourth win in the Yankees’ 3–2 victory, allowing just three hits to Texas, walking two and striking out eight batters. He threw 92 pitches, 64 of them strikes.
Cody Bellinger gave Schlittler an early lead by hitting an RBI double off Aaron Judge in the first inning; the only run the Yankees managed against deGrom, who also completed six innings. Austin Wells added a home run in the seventh inning off Jalen Beeks, Wells’ third of the season. Judge provided a crucial lead in the ninth inning by hitting a 424-foot solo home run (according to Statcast projections) for his 12th home run of the year.
After dominating most of the night, Schlittler’s toughest moment came in the sixth inning. Brandon Nimmo singled to lead off the inning and Schlittler issued a four-pitch walk to Josh Jung, his first four-pitch walk this year.
After a visit to the mound, Schlittler responded by striking out Corey Seager, causing Joc Pederson to fly out and causing Jake Burger to fly out.
