by Cam Schlittler did not just beat the Phillies. He dragged the Yankees through a night when their offense gave him almost nothing to work with.
The Yankees opened their series in Philadelphia with a 1-0 victory Friday night, improving to 58-45 behind one of the best starts of Schlittler’s young career.
Seven and one-third innings. Three hits. No walks. Twelve strikeouts.
That is how you bounce back.
Schlittler Took Over the Game
Schlittler entered the night coming off a rough outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he lasted only 4 1/3 innings.
There was no carryover.
The right-hander attacked the Phillies from the opening inning, striking out Trea Turner and Bryce Harper before retiring the side. He followed that by striking out Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott in the second, then struck out J.T. Realmuto and Gabriel Rincones Jr. in the third.
Philadelphia had one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball standing at the plate.
Schlittler made them look completely lost.
He threw 68 of his 99 pitches for strikes, finished with 12 strikeouts and did not issue a walk. Bryce Harper struck out three times. Turner struck out twice. Marsh struck out twice.
The Phillies did not have a real answer until the eighth inning.
That is when Realmuto singled, Rincones was hit by a pitch and Edmundo Sosa singled off Brent Headrick to load the bases with one out.
Here we go again, right?
A dominant start suddenly sitting on the edge because the Yankees only scored one run.
But Headrick escaped. Turner lined out directly to Cody Bellinger in left field, and Kyle Schwarber grounded out to second to end the inning.
Schlittler’s final line was clean: 7 1/3 innings, three hits, no runs, no walks and 12 strikeouts.
He improved to 10-6 with a 2.07 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.
Schut ’em out. #RepBX | @Cam31Schlittler pic.twitter.com/SGuMEQIyRo
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 25, 2026
Goldschmidt Provided the Only Run
The Yankees offense did not exactly give Schlittler room to breathe.
Paul Goldschmidt led off the fourth inning by driving a Jesus Luzardo pitch over the right-field wall. It was Goldschmidt’s 16th home run of the season and his 43rd RBI.
That was it.
One swing. One run. Ballgame.
The Yankees finished with only three hits, one walk and 12 strikeouts. They went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Ben Rice struck out three times. Goldschmidt struck out twice. José Caballero struck out twice. The bottom of the lineup produced almost nothing.
The Yankees had a chance to add more in the fifth after Jasson Domínguez singled, Anthony Volpe reached on an error and Ali Sánchez was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Goldschmidt grounded out to end the inning.
That missed opportunity nearly became the entire story later.
You cannot keep asking your pitching staff to win every game with one run. It worked Friday because Schlittler was dominant, Headrick survived the eighth and David Bednar handled the ninth.
That formula is not going to work every night.
Bellinger Saved a Run in the Eighth
Bellinger did not drive in a run, but his defense helped preserve the lead.
With the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, Turner hit a hard line drive to left. Bellinger positioned himself perfectly, made the catch and prevented Realmuto from attempting to score.
In the ninth, Bellinger made a leaping catch on a deep fly ball from Marsh for the second out.
Those were two huge defensive plays in a game with zero margin for error.
Bednar then finished the job by striking out Harper, retiring Marsh and getting Alec Bohm to ground out.
Nine pitches. Three outs. Save No. 19.
A Win Is a Win, but the Offense Has to Wake Up
The Yankees will take the victory.
They went into Philadelphia, shut out the Phillies and won a tight game against Luzardo, who allowed only three hits and struck out nine over seven innings.
But this game also showed exactly how thin the margin becomes when the offense disappears.
Three hits.
One run.
Twelve strikeouts.
The Yankees were fortunate Schlittler delivered a performance strong enough to cover everything else.
Friday belonged to Cam Schlittler. He answered a bad start with the type of outing that makes people stop and pay attention.
The Yankees did not win because they played a complete game.
They won because their starting pitcher refused to let them lose.
NYY.NEWS SHOP - MEMORABILIA, CLOTHING & MORE
-
Imperial New York Yankees Big Game TV Frame
$38.99 Buy Now -
MLB NEW YORK YANKEES WINGSPAN MEN’S DROP SHOULDER FLC PO HOODIE (EGGSHELL)
$120.00 Buy Now -
Youth Navy New York Yankees Peanuts Flag T-Shirt
$29.99 Buy Now -
Men’s New York Yankees New Era USA 250 Cream and Navy Fourth of July Low Profile 59FIFTY Fitted Cap
$55.99 Buy Now -
Holda New York Yankees Steering Wheel Cover
$49.99 Buy Now -
MLB NEW YORK YANKEES DIY PICK STITCH LEATHER PINCH FRONT STRAPBACK (BLACK)
$45.00 Buy Now -
MLB NEW YORK YANKEES WASHED CLASSIC MEN’S ENZYME WASH FT SHORT (WASHED MIDNIGHT NAVY)
$80.00 Buy Now -
New York Yankees 24.25” x 35.75” Field Framed Poster
$54.99 Buy Now
