Massachusetts natives Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice help Yanks defeat Red Sox

NEW YORK -- It’s ironic that two players from Massachusetts – right-hander Cam Schlittler and designated hitter Ben Rice – played a huge role in helping the New York Yankees pound the Boston Red Sox, 9-0, in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night. 

“Obviously that's been a storyline for a couple of years now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said to reporters. “For them to go out and have that kind of night together to start this postseason – pretty amazing and kind of hard to grasp a little bit, frankly, but I'm certainly glad we have those two.”

Dominance is the best word to describe Schlittler’s outing. He threw gas. The Walpole native allowed just two hits in 6.1 innings while striking out 10 batters. Schlittler produced 24 swings and misses, while his fastball was clocked as high as 101 miles per hour. Unlike most games, Schiltler relied quite a bit on his curveball and the Red Sox didn’t see it coming.

“Cam was awfully good,” Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said to reporters. “The fastball shapes are well-documented. He's throwing hard. He also had a good curveball today that you know it's there but he used it a little bit more often. He was able to get it beneath for swings and misses. We weren't able to do much with him.”

Schlittler decided to add the curveball to his arsenal against the White Sox on July 29. In that game, he pitched 6.1 innings and allowed one run in a 6-5 loss, which lasted 12 innings.  

“I think (the curveball) was in a good spot,” he said. “I feel like I was throwing it harder. Obviously it wasn't as hard and over the last month or so. But I feel like the movement on that pitch and the execution of that pitch and the location has been really good since then.”

Schlittler’s outing was a reminder of last year’s start when he dominated Boston in Game 3 of AL Wild Card Series. In that game, which helped New York advance to the Division Series against the Blue Jays, Schiltler threw eight shutout innings. 

“I think the expectation is the same,” Schlittler said. “I feel like I went in there today with the same mindset. Again, it's a different feeling going out there and setting the tone in Game 1.”

As he left the game in the seventh, Schiltler heard chants of "MVP, MVP, MVP." He deserves votes for the top prize. After all, he led American League pitchers in WAR per Baseball Reference (7.1), ERA (1.95) and adjusted ERA+ (215).

While he appreciates the support from the fans, Schittler said the job is not done. He wants to win a World Series title. 

“We've gotta get another win tomorrow. But it's very well known that if you want to be a legend, which is obviously the goal, you've got to do it in the postseason,” he said.  “So go out there and have dominant starts and put the team in the position to win. That's kind of the most important thing.”    

Rice, who is from Cohasset, Mass, arguably had the game of his life, going 4-for-5 with two homers and six RBI. Both homers were clutch. With the Yankees clinging to a 1-0 lead in the fifth, Rice was facing left-hander Erick Miller when he swung at a 1-1 pitch and hit the ball over the center-field wall. 

“I did my homework. I understand the pitch package that (Miller) has. I think nobody is on base there. So really I’m just trying to get on base and set something up,” Rice said.   

Three innings later, Rice became a postseason legend. The count was full when Rice hit a grand slam over the right center-field wall off right-hander Bryan Bello. It was the 16th grand slam in franchise history in the postseason and the first since Anthony Volpe’s slam in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series. It also marked the 27th multi-homer game in the postseason in franchise history and the first since Giancarlo Stanton’s two homers in Game 2 of the 2020 American League Division Series against the Rays.

“Yeah, I'll remember getting a W versus the Red Sox,” Rice said. “There's nothing better than that. I'll remember Cam going out there and just being lights out, like he always is. I'll remember the atmosphere. It was just an awesome night. Great way to kick off the series.”

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.