In a twist that stung for Boston fans, Cam Schlittler, the 24-year-old rookie from Walpole, Massachusetts, dominated his hometown Red Sox on Thursday night, firing eight scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and zero walks to lead the Yankees to a 4-0 victory in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series. The performance etched Schlittler's name into history as the first pitcher to achieve such a feat in the postseason—no runs, no free passes, just pure command on the mound.
Schlittler, who grew up idolizing the Red Sox and even played at Northeastern University before breaking into the majors this year, faced his childhood team with unflinching resolve. His fastball hummed at 98 mph, baffling hitters like Roman Anthony and Masataka Yoshida, who combined for just a single hit against him. Indeed, the Yankees' offense didn't waste the opportunity, scratching across four runs early, including a two-run homer from Aaron Judge that sealed the deal before the ninth.
Opposing him was Boston's own rookie, Connelly Early, the 23-year-old lefty and No. 6 prospect who had dazzled in four regular-season starts with a 2.45 ERA. But Early, fresh out of Vanderbilt where he honed his craft, couldn't match Schlittler's intensity. He lasted just 4.2 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits, his curveball hanging too often in the Yankee Stadium lights. The Red Sox, clinging to hopes after splitting the first two games, watched their season unravel quietly—no dramatic rally, no late heroics from the likes of Wilyer Abreu.
However, for Schlittler, the night carried a bittersweet edge. As the son of a Needham police chief, he spoke postgame about the mixed emotions of eliminating the team he once cheered for, yet his focus remained on the bigger prize ahead. The Yankees now advance to the ALDS, their bullpen intact and lineup firing, while Boston heads into an uncertain offseason. Moreover, this matchup of unproven arms highlighted the risks of youth in October—Early's promise intact, but Schlittler's star rising fast.
Yet as the echoes fade from Yankee Stadium, one wonders how these rookies' journeys will shape the rivalries to come.