It was personal for Cam Schlittler.
The Massachusetts native, who grew up in a family of Red Sox fans, pitched the Yankees into the ALDS with an utterly dominant performance against his hometown team at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night. Schlittler became the first pitcher in postseason history to record 12-plus strikeouts and no walks in eight-plus innings pitched.
And the masterful start, as Schlittler told reporters after the game, was fueled by online barbs from Red Sox fans.
“It’s personal for me, just playing Boston.”
– Cam Schlittler pic.twitter.com/AhyBUpnos6
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 3, 2025
“People from Boston had a lot to say before the game,” Schlittler said, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “For me, just being a silent killer, being able to go out there and shut them down—I’m from Boston. I didn’t like some of the things they were saying today. I was just making sure I was going out there and extra locked in.”
Schlittler didn’t want to specify what was said, but one thing was apparent: He felt what was said “crossed the line” and got him into the perfect competitive mindset.
“There’s a line I think they crossed a little bit,” Schlittler said. “I’m a competitor. I’m going to go out there and make sure I shut them down. You know Boston fans. It’s just how it is. We’re aggressive back home and we’re gonna try and get under peoples’ skin. They just picked the wrong guy to do it to—and the wrong team to do it to as well.”
Pitching with a purpose, Schlittler primarily used a mix of three fastballs—four-seam, cutter and sinker—to keep the Red Sox hitters guessing. His 12 strikeouts were the most by a Yankees pitcher in a postseason debut in franchise history, surpassing Dave Righetti and Red Ruffing.
“We needed to be perfect tonight, because he was perfect,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after the game. “The stuff is outstanding. He was under control. That was electric.”
And at the end of the night, Schlittler got the last laugh with a jab back at Red Sox fans, referencing the club’s longtime post-victory song.
Drinking dat dirty water
— Cam (@Cam32Schlittler) October 3, 2025
