ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Yankees’ top priority in September is trying to chase down the Rays for the division.
Besides that, they need to get Aaron Judge back healthy and allow him to get his timing down before the postseason arrives. They wouldn’t mind giving their heavily used high-leverage relievers a rest, either.
In addition to all of that, there is the sideshow of Cam Schlittler trying to make a final push for the AL Cy Young award.
Though Schlittler certainly added to his case with a dominant outing Wednesday night, his offense let him down, forcing the Yankees’ ace to settle for a no decision after making just one mistake across eight innings.
But the Yankees’ bats woke up in time to make sure the night was not a total bust.
Austin Wells delivered a clutch two-out, two-strike, two-run single with the bases loaded in the top of the 10th before the Yankees added on and secured a 6-3 win over the Angels to take the series at Angel Stadium.
“Just a lot of really great at-bats in the 10th inning, highlighted by Wellsy,” manager Aaron Boone said. “To do all the damage we did there with two outs was massive. Turned a light day offensively into a really good way to end this series and head into an off day.”
After David Bednar threw a scoreless bottom of the ninth, the Yankees loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 10th and then exploded with two outs against reliever Luke Murphy.
Wells’ go-ahead single — causing the Yankees-heavy crowd to erupt — was the first of four straight hits as Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Ben Rice followed with RBI singles of their own to push the lead to 6-1.
That proved important as Michael Fulmer gave up a two-run shot in the bottom of the frame before recovering to close out the win.
By the end of the night, the Yankees (80-60) had moved within 3 ¹/₂ games of the Rays for the division — the first time they picked up a game on them since Aug. 21 — and five games clear of the Red Sox for the top AL wild card with 22 games to play.
“I feel like we’ve had some games that they’ve lost and we haven’t been able to get a game on them,” Schlittler said. “So it’s a good feeling for them to lose and inch towards them.”
Schlittler had retired 17 straight before leaving a cutter down the middle to Vaughn Grissom, who drilled it to dead center field for a solo shot that tied the game at one in the seventh inning.
That was only a problem because Angels lefty Reid Detmers was stifling the Yankees offense at the same time, allowing just one run — on an RBI ground-rule double by Amed Rosario — across seven innings.
But otherwise, Schlittler was terrific, allowing just two hits — both to Grissom — across eight innings while walking none and striking out nine.
It marked the 19th time in 29 starts he has allowed one run or fewer, lowering his ERA to 2.04 — which still bests Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease, who lowered his ERA to 2.25 earlier on Wednesday.
Yankees Merch Shop
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
“It’s been beyond special [what Schlittler is doing],” said Cody Bellinger, who went 8-for-14 in the series. “Playing defense behind him, it’s electric.”
In five August starts, Schlittler had uncharacteristically walked 16 batters in 27 innings — including five against the Red Sox his last time out — but he cleaned it up on Wednesday to get deep into the game.
“Just pounding the zone, not really thinking about where it’s going,” Schlittler said. “I’ve struggled a little bit the last couple starts trying to be too perfect. Just being able to go out there and throw the ball and trust where it’s going to go.”
The strong outing ensured his offense had enough time to wake up, which it finally did in the 10th, thanks in large part to Wells. The catcher started the day on the bench but pinch hit in the eighth inning and ended up with two hits, the second one coming in a six-pitch battle that helped win it for the Yankees.
“Just trying to get the ball somewhere on the grass, find a hole, drive in at least one, move the lineup over,” said Wells, who has been a much better hitter in the second half after a brutal start to the season. “I knew I had Belli behind me, so I was like, if I can get him up, we’re going to score a couple more.”
