New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler struck out a career-high 13 Cincinnati Reds over six scoreless innings Friday night, powering a 5-0 MLB win at Yankee Stadium.
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported that Schlittler turned in one of the most overpowering starts of his young career. MLB's official schedule and linescore verified the June 19 final: New York 5, Cincinnati 0, with the game played in the Bronx.
Schlittler Sets Career High Against Reds
The performance moved Schlittler's strikeout best past the 12 he recorded in Game 3 of last year's American League Wild Card Series, according to MLB.com. Friday's start came on 96 pitches and covered six innings.
MLB.com reported that the outing lowered Schlittler's American League-leading ERA to 1.71 and strengthened his All-Star case. The same report noted that Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Schlittler has an argument as the best pitcher in the American League right now.
The shape of the start was straightforward: fastballs and cutters in the zone, with the Reds mostly swinging under them. MLB.com credited him with 18 whiffs on 49 swings and said he leaned on a sinker, four-seamer and cutter while mixing in three curveballs.
Yankees Turn Pitching Into 5-0 Win
The Yankees built most of the margin early, scoring four runs in the second inning before adding another in the eighth. The MLB linescore listed New York with eight hits and Cincinnati with four.
Ben Rice supplied the biggest swing, hitting a three-run homer that MLB.com listed as his team-leading 21st of the season. Rice and Schlittler were both drafted by Yankees scout Matt Hyde, a smaller roster-development note inside a larger win.
Schlittler also added a Yankees history marker. MLB.com, citing Sarah Langs, said he became the youngest pitcher in franchise history to post at least 13 strikeouts and no walks in a game, at 25 years and 134 days old.
The result pushed New York to 46-28, while Cincinnati fell to 35-39, according to MLB's official schedule data. For the Yankees, the useful part is not just one June shutout. It is another start that makes Schlittler look less like a hot stretch and more like a fixture in the front of the rotation.