Cam Schlittler's early hook backfires on Aaron Boone, Yankees
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free
Cam Schlittler was laboring a bit, but certainly still looked sharp.
Still, manager Aaron Boone yanked the rookie starter after five innings and just 86 pitches.
Advertisement
It immediately backfired in the Yankees' 4-1 loss to the Twins Wednesday night in The Bronx.
Schlittler allowed one run on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
But with the game tied at 1-1, it was reliever Yerry De los Santos who came out for the sixth inning.
Advertisement
He promptly gave up two straight singles to start the inning — to Byron Buxton and Luke Keaschall — followed by a two-run double to Kody Clemens as the Yankees fell behind 3-1. De los Santos was pulled without recording an out.
He was replaced by Mark Leiter Jr., who, later in the inning, gave up an RBI double to Royce Lewis that extended the Twins' lead to 4-1.
'It was like 52 [pitches] over the fourth and fifth inning,' Boone said. 'Just coming through a tough part of the lineup, Buxton, the time prior, had seen a ton of pitches before hitting a double against him. I just felt like, it was 86 [pitches], but over 50 those last two innings, so it's like how much more are you gonna get out of him? It felt like he really had to grind through the fourth and the fifth there. He set us up. Going into an off-day and with a rested-up [bullpen], felt like we could get there.'
Cam Schlittler, who held Minnesota to one run, walks off the mound after getting out of the fifth inning on Aug. 13, 2025.
Robert Sabo / New York Post
Advertisement
Schlittler's pitch count was at just 34 through three innings, but he threw 29 pitches in the fourth and 23 in the fifth.
He wasn't giving up hard contact, however, and had retired four of his last five batters.
Entering Wednesday, Schlittler averaged 88 pitches in his five starts this year.
He reached or surpassed 90 pitches in three of those starts.
Advertisement
Cam Schlittler throws a pitch during the Yankees' loss to the Twins.
Robert Sabo / New York Post
'I felt good,' Schlittler said. 'I'm a rookie, so you got to earn that. It's gonna take time and consistency. No issue with the decision and I trust the bullpen.
'You have [86] pitches after five [innings], Buxton's coming up, two-three-four [hitters], I just feel like, as a rookie, you gotta earn that.'
The Yankees have placed significant trust in Schlittler.
When Luis Gil's return from the injured list necessitated a rotation decision, the Yankees opted to cut veteran Marcus Stroman rather than move Schlittler to the bullpen or send him down to Triple-A.
And though they revamped their bullpen, the Yankees did not make a move for a starter ahead of the trade deadline.
With Wednesday's start, Schlittler lowered his season ERA to 3.94.
Advertisement
Go beyond the box score with the Bombers
Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+.
Thank you
Enter your email address
Please provide a valid email address.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!
Check out more newsletters
Clearly, though, they are still going to be cautious with how they use him.
'He set us up to win a game,' Boone said. 'I will confer [with the pitcher] sometimes. Tonight, though, I felt like it was time to pull him.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Athletics hit three home runs in 10-3 win over Angels
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Colby Thomas, Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz homered, rookie Jack Perkins had seven strikeouts in five solid innings and the Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angeles 10-3 on Friday night. The Athletics snapped an eight-game losing streak, which included seven this season, against the Angels. Thomas and Kurtz each had three hits and drove in three runs. Thomas, a 24-year-old rookie, hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Kurtz hit a three-run shot that capped the scoring in the eighth. Perkins (2-2) made his third career start and allowed three runs on five hits with three walks. He allowed three runs on three hits in six innings to beat Orioles 11-3 for first win as a starter his last time out. Langeliers hit solo homer off Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (6-8) and added an RBI single. Kikuchi gave up five hits and four runs in four innings. Travis d'Arnaud doubled to drive in Yoán Moncada in the second for the Angels. Zach Neto homered after Bryce Teodosio walked on four pitches to lead off the fifth to trim their deficit to 4-3. Key stat The Athletics were 6 for 9 with runners in scoring position while the Angels were 1 for 7. Up next Angels LHP Tyler Anderson (2-7, 4.63 ERA) starts Saturday opposite Athletics RHP Luis Morales (0-0, 1.93). ___
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Diaz singles in deciding run in 9th in Rays' 7-6 victory over Giants
Yandy Diaz had an RBI single in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-6 on Friday night. Junior Caminero hit his 35th home run and Chandler Simpson had four hits to help Tampa Bay win for the third time in four games. Diaz had two hits and two RBIs. Nick Fortes was hit by a pitch from Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez (3-4) to begin the ninth, After Simpson singled for his fourth hit of the night, San Francisco made a 4-5-2 putout before Diaz lofted a bloop single to right. Edwin Uceta (8-2), the fourth of five relievers utilized by Rays manager Kevin Cash, retired three batters. Pete Fairbanks gave up a leadoff double in the ninth, then set down three straight for his 21st save. Willy Adames homered for the Giants. San Francisco dropped a season-low four games under .500 at 59-63. The Rays trailed 3-1 and 6-3 before coming back to win in their final at-bat. Caminero homered off Giants starter Landen Roupp in the second. Roupp allowed five runs and five hits with five strikeouts in three innings. Tampa Bay starter Boyle allowed four runs and four hits in two innings. After the Giants loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, Uceta needed eight pitches to work out of the jam. The first two batters in the Giants' lineup, Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers, were 2 for 10 with seven strikeouts. Giants RHP Justin Verlander (1-9, 4.53 ERA) was set to face RHP Adrian Houser (6-4, 2.84) on Saturday night.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Angels pitchers give up three home runs in loss to Athletics
SACRAMENTO — Colby Thomas, Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz homered, rookie Jack Perkins had seven strikeouts in five solid innings and the Athletics beat the Angels 10-3 on Friday night. The Athletics (55-69) snapped an eight-game losing streak, which included seven this season, against the Angels. Thomas and Kurtz each had three hits and drove in three runs. Thomas, a 24-year-old rookie, hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Kurtz hit a three-run shot that capped the scoring in the eighth. Perkins (2-2) made his third career start and allowed three runs on five hits with three walks. He allowed three runs on three hits in six innings to beat Orioles 11-3 for first win as a starter his last time out. Langeliers hit solo homer off Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (6-8) and added an RBI single. Kikuchi gave up five hits and four runs in four innings. Travis d'Arnaud doubled to drive in Yoán Moncada in the second for the Angels (59-63). Zach Neto homered after Bryce Teodosio walked on four pitches to lead off the fifth to trim their deficit to 4-3. Key moment: Brent Rooker doubled to lead off the third and moved to third on a single by Kurtz before Thomas hit a first-pitch curveball over the wall in left center field to make it 4-1. Key stat: The Athletics were 6 for 9 with runners in scoring position while the Angels were 1 for 7. Up next: Angels LHP Tyler Anderson (2-7, 4.63 ERA) starts Saturday opposite Athletics RHP Luis Morales (0-0, 1.93).
