Cam Schlittler said on May 21 that he was disappointed with his performance during the New York Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Schlittler, who had been dominant throughout the season, struggled in the seventh inning and allowed two walks that contributed to Toronto’s victory.
The matchup between Schlittler and Trey Yesavage was seen as a preview of future American League East battles, as both pitchers are considered rising stars. Their strong performances highlighted the importance of pitching talent for both teams moving forward.
After a rain delay of over two hours, Schlittler started strong with fast pitches but encountered trouble in the seventh inning when Ernie Clement reached base and Jesús Sánchez walked. A bunt by Brandon Valenzuela loaded the bases, leading manager Aaron Boone to comment: “We were kind of selling out. I think both guys maybe had a chance to make it. It was probably a better play for Wells, but because Goldy was playing it so aggressively, it looked like there was some indecision.” Despite this situation, Schlittler remained confident he could escape unscathed: “The experiences I’ve had facing them, you’ve got to get out of traffic,” he said.
Andrés Giménez worked an 11-pitch walk against Schlittler that forced in a run and ended his night on the mound. Boone then removed him from the game amid applause from fans. Reflecting on what might have been if he had escaped trouble earlier in the inning, Schlittler said: “We get out of that and it’s a whole different game.” The outing broke his streak of six consecutive starts allowing one earned run or fewer.
Yesavage also impressed by retiring 18 of 20 batters over six innings with eight strikeouts before turning things over to Toronto’s bullpen. Both pitchers were recently promoted through their respective farm systems and are expected to remain key players for years ahead. Giménez said: “They’re going to be in the league for a while, and they’re going to be great.”
Yovanny Cruz made his Major League debut for New York with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen after eight seasons in Minor League Baseball. Through interpreter Marlon Abreu, Cruz described his feelings: “I thanked God in the bullpen maybe 200 times when I was warming up… It was a long road to get here, a lot of injuries. A lot of things that I had to overcome. I’m just really excited and happy to be here.”
