Having etched his name into New York Yankees lore with a brilliant performance in a 4-0 win in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card series, Cam Schlittler had some fun at the expense of the Boston Red Sox afterward.
Schlittler and the Yankees trolled their AL East rivals on social media with posts about “dirty water” in reference to Boston’s use of the Standells’ song as their victory anthem.
To the victor goes the spoils, and the Yankees are feeling really spoiled right now after Schlittler shut down the Red Sox. It was their first playoff series win over Boston since the 2003 ALCS.
Both teams sent rookie pitchers to the mound in a winner-take-all playoff game. Connelly Early battled his way through 3.2 innings for the Red Sox, allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out six.
Schlittler, though, was virtually untouchable on the mound for the Yankees. He allowed just five hits (all singles) and struck out 12 without issuing a walk.
The right-hander became the first pitcher in MLB postseason history to have at least 12 strikeouts with no walks and throw eight shutout innings. This came just three months after he allowed seven runs in 2.1 innings in a Triple-A start.
The Yankees called Schlittler up to make his MLB debut seven days after that July 2 appearance. He has been dynamite in the big leagues with a 2.96 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 73 innings over 14 starts in the regular season.
All of a sudden the Yankees look like a team that might have the best starting trio of anyone left in the playoffs. Schlittler, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón combined to allow just three runs in 20.1 innings during the three-game series against Boston.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone hasn’t announced the Game 1 starter in the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Luis Gil or Will Warren are the most-likely candidates.
If the Yankees can steal the opener, they will have Fried, Rodón and Schlittler lined up for the next three games.
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