Boston Red Sox
“We needed to be perfect tonight, because he was perfect.”
A Cohasset kid opened the door for the Yankees in Game 2, and a Walpole kid slammed it shut on the Red Sox in Game 3.
Ben Rice started the action with a two-run homer Wednesday, then Cam Schlittler provided the knockout punch with an historically dominant outing at Yankee Stadium.
Schlittler, a 24-year-old rookie who played for Walpole High and Northeastern University, tossed eight scoreless innings to steer New York to a 4-0 triumph and end Boston’s season.
“He didn’t look like a rookie, did he?” teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr. told reporters.
Schlittler became the first pitcher to go eight scoreless innings with 12-plus strikeouts and no walks in a playoff game in Major League history. Not just among Yankees or among rookies — among all pitchers ever.
He’s also the first pitcher in MLB history to have 12-plus strikeouts in a winner-take-all postseason game.
“We needed to be perfect tonight, because he was perfect,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters. “I mean, the stuff is outstanding. He was under control. That was electric.”
The 6-foot-6-inch right-hander consistently hit 100 miles per hour and grew stronger as the game progressed — capping a spectacular showing with a seven-pitch eighth inning to reach 107 on the night.
Schlittler said he wasn’t sure if manager Aaron Boone would let him return for the eighth; he ultimately made Boone look wise by delivering a fitting finish.
In an interview with ESPN’s Buster Olney afterward, Schlittler remained as stoic as he was on the mound and downplayed a truly brilliant performance.
“Win-or-go-home situation,” Schlittler said. “Just happy to be able to help the team, get the win, and go to Toronto.”
After hearing a lot of noise before the game — some good, some bad — he was thrilled to be a “silent killer” and shut down the team he cheered for growing up.
Boone knew Schlittler was confident going into the game and loved what he saw.
“I don’t know if I had eight shutout innings, but I’m not surprised by anything that kid does,” Boone told reporters. “He pretty much told me last night that this was going to happen.”
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