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It is still far too early to tell whether Wednesday night was a sign of things to come, a flash in the pan or even a showcase for other teams with the trade deadline nearing.
But at least for one start, Cam Schlittler delivered just what the Yankees needed, doing so while lighting up the radar gun often enough for fans to utter, “Holy Schlitt.”
The 24-year-old Schlittler came out firing in his MLB debut and struck out seven across 5 ¹/₃ encouraging innings as the Yankees beat the Mariners for a third straight win, 9-6 in The Bronx.
Called up to fill a hole in the rotation left by Clarke Schmidt needing Tommy John surgery, Schlittler walked off the mound in the sixth inning to a standing ovation from the 35,651 in attendance who appreciated his efforts.
On a day that began with the Yankees (51-41) designating veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu for assignment, reinforcing the need to acquire a third baseman, general manager Brian Cashman still cited pitching as his biggest concern moving forward, largely due to a rotation missing three starters from last year’s World Series staff.
That was going to remain the biggest need regardless of how Schlittler fared.
But in the interim, fresh off a quick rise through the Yankees farm system and prospect rankings, Schlittler was impressive against the Mariners (48-44).
The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits (two solo homers) and two walks, capping off his outing by punching out MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh a second time.
The first came on a 100 mph fastball that caught the catcher looking in the first inning.
Schlittler’s final pitch, a 98 mph heater, got Raleigh whiffing.
Coming into the night, the hardest-thrown pitch by a Yankee this season belonged to reliever Yerry De Los Santos at 98.5 mph, according to Baseball Savant.
By the end of his outing, Schlittler had thrown seven pitches above that mark, six of them coming in the first inning as he topped out at 100 mph.
The Yankees provided their young teammate with plenty of run support to help the cause.
They handed him a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning then added on from there — including two home runs from Jazz Chisholm Jr., who might just be playing his way into next week’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta.
Jasson Domínguez added a three-hit night out of the leadoff spot, including an RBI double in the sixth inning.
Aaron Judge followed that with a two-run double to make it a 9-4 lead.
Jonathan Loáisiga relieved Schlittler with a man on second in the sixth inning and immediately gave up a two-run homer on the first pitch he threw to Randy Arozarena, making it a 6-4 game.
Loáisiga got tagged for another two-run shot in the seventh inning that pulled the Mariners within 9-6, further emphasizing the need for bullpen help by the deadline.
But Luke Weaver, who had a brutal last week, looked sharper in 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings before Devin Williams closed it out with a perfect ninth inning for his 13th save.
