Yankees' young ace Schlittler makes hometown start in Boston: one costly error sends Fenway into chaos

Cam Schlittler, the New York Yankees’ young starting pitcher, spent his childhood in Walpole, Massachusetts, about 30 miles from Boston, and had pictured himself on the Fenway mound countless times.

Yet what happened Wednesday was completely outside his wildest imagination.

Schlittler flashed his trademark high-spin arsenal, but his homecoming derailed in the fifth inning after a critical error by Amed Rosario. The frame saw New York surrender four runs, ultimately losing 6–3 to the Red Sox. The rookie lasted five innings, throwing 92 pitches (62 strikes) before exiting.

In the bottom of the fifth, Schlittler walked Masataka Yoshida to start, then allowed a single to Ceddanne Rafaela. After recording a strikeout, Willson Contreras ripped a 112.8-mph grounder that slipped right through Rosario’s legs at third base—a “through-the- wickets” miscue that brought home the first run.

Next, Jarren Duran lifted a shallow fly to left, and Rafaela tested José Caballero’s arm. The throw to home sailed toward the first-base line, tying the game. Caleb Durbin then crushed a two-run homer that cleared the Green Monster in left, giving Boston the lead.

None of the four runs Schlittler allowed were earned, actually lowering his ERA from 1.71 to 1.62. On the day, he gave up five hits, walked two, and struck out nine.

Even before the fifth, this game had felt off for Schlittler. He threw away a pickoff attempt in the first inning, and in the second, Durbin popped an infield fly that no one caught, turning into an infield single.

Wednesday marked Schlittler’s fourth career start against Boston, including last year’s AL Wild Card Game 3. Over his two previous outings versus the Red Sox this season, he had allowed just three runs (two earned) in 13.2 innings, going 1–0 with a 1.32 ERA.