Schlittler bounces back from last outing with strong performance, but Yankees fall to Braves in extra innings

Over the past few days, the New York Yankees' player development system has been on full display, with George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, and Ben Rice all contributing during the series win against the Atlanta Braves.

Today, it was Cam Schlittler's turn to shine, but his teammates' offensive support arrived too late.

Michael Harris II delivered an RBI single off Paul Blackburn in the tenth inning, helping the Braves defeat the Yankees 2-1 at Yankee Stadium today.

“No matter the score, you always want to strive for perfection and give your team a chance to win,” Schlittler said. “This was a tight game against a really tough opponent. If a game like this doesn't keep you focused, I don't know what will.”

Schlittler rebounded strongly from his worst start of the season, striking out 11 batters over seven innings without issuing a single walk. Trent Grisham tied the game with a home run in the eighth inning, but that was all the struggling Yankees lineup could muster.

“Right now, the pitchers almost have to be perfect to keep us in the game,” catcher Austin Wells said. “And they really have been—it's incredible. Schlittler knew exactly what he needed to do.”

The Yankees' record in extra-inning games this season dropped to 2-9.

“When you know what you're capable of and you work hard in the cage every day, only to keep getting results like this, it's really frustrating,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “We just can't seem to put it together during the game. We have to keep grinding and push through this tough stretch.”

This was the first full series for the Yankees' revamped lineup after the trade deadline, featuring new additions like first baseman Luis García Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos. They lost all three games by a single run, scoring a total of just nine runs in the entire series.

“We have to do more, we need to score runs,” manager Aaron Boone said. “But unlike some of the games where we were completely shut down, I felt like we had some good swings today. As a group, the quality of our at-bats was better, but we still need to find a way to bring runners home.”

The Yankees' best scoring opportunity against Grant Holmes came in the sixth inning, when Wells singled and Grisham doubled with one out. But Rice flew out and Ramos struck out to end the inning.

The Yankees' offensive production should improve when Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton return from the injured list. But they can't afford to wait that long.

“Compared to last week, our lineup already looks a bit different,” Boone said. “We have more flexibility in terms of personnel. On different days, we can put a few more legitimate hitters in the lineup. I feel like we're a stronger team now, even after today.”

Matt Olson's home run in the seventh inning was the only damage the Braves lineup inflicted on Schlittler, as the slugger jumped on a 100.0 mph four-seam fastball and sent it out of the park.

“It was a 2-0 count,” Schlittler said. “In his first two at-bats, I was trying to pitch him away a bit. That pitch was a little too middle-in and low, and he got to it.”

Schlittler, who alongside Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease is considered a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, started hot, striking out five of the first six batters he faced. He allowed only three hits total, throwing 67 of 96 pitches for strikes. All his strikeouts came on fastballs.

“His fastball was completely in the strike zone. The movement on all his pitches was excellent,” Wells said. “He got ahead in counts and then just cleanly put those hitters away. That's a great lineup, and he was outstanding.”

In his previous start, Schlittler struggled against the Cardinals, lasting just three innings while throwing 83 pitches (51 strikes) and issuing a career-high five walks, as the Yankees lost 13-7. Boone called that start “arguably his worst of the season” and expected a bounce-back today. Indeed, Schlittler was much more efficient against the Braves, needing only 70 pitches to complete six innings.

This was one of Schlittler's best starts in the Bronx this season. Overall, he has been sharper on the road, posting a 1.10 ERA in 14 away starts, compared to a 3.95 ERA in 11 starts at Yankee Stadium.

“It's probably a coincidence,” Schlittler said. “But at the same time, it means I need to be more focused. Coming back here, it's a day game against a strong opponent. I just tried to stay locked in and block out distractions.”