In a twist that felt almost scripted for baseball's endless drama, rookie Cam Schlittler from Walpole, Massachusetts, turned the tables on his boyhood team Thursday night. The 24-year-old right-hander, who grew up cheering for the Red Sox just like so many in his suburban Boston hometown, pitched eight scoreless innings against them in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series. Striking out 12 batters without issuing a single walk, Schlittler etched his name into Yankees lore, securing a 4-0 victory that ended Boston's season and sent New York to the ALDS.
Schlittler's performance was nothing short of electric. Indeed, he became the first pitcher in postseason history to rack up at least eight shutout innings with 12-plus strikeouts and zero free passes. The son of a Needham police chief, he had only joined the Yankees' rotation in July, making 14 starts down the stretch. But against the Red Sox, his fastball hummed, and his slider bit hard. Roman Anthony, Boston's young outfield prospect, went down swinging twice, while Masataka Yoshida couldn't find his timing either. Schlittler's roots added a layer of irony—he'd played at Northeastern University after starring in Walpole high school fields.
On the other side, Red Sox starter Connelly Early, the 23-year-old lefty and No. 6 prospect in Boston's system, struggled to match the intensity. Fresh out of Vanderbilt—where he'd honed his craft as a college standout—Early lasted just four innings, surrendering three runs on five hits. The Yankees pounced early, with RBI singles from Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres building a lead Early couldn't claw back. Boston's lineup, featuring flashes from Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers, fizzled against Schlittler's command. It was a stark reminder of how fragile these wildcard hopes can be.
Moreover, the game evoked echoes of old rivalries, though without the Babe Ruth ghosts quite materializing. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Schlittler's poise, calling him a "silent killer" who'd silenced the Fenway faithful—wait, no, this was at Yankee Stadium, but the sting felt the same. For Red Sox fans, it's another October disappointment, their team fun but ultimately outmatched.
However, as the Yankees gear up for deeper runs, one can't help but wonder if this local kid's breakout signals a shifting tide in the AL East balance.