The Bronx got the opening statement it wanted. Cam Schlittler kept Boston quiet, Ben Rice supplied the thunder, and the Yankees opened their Wild Card Series with a 9–0 win at Yankee Stadium. New York leads the best-of-three series 1–0, with a chance to finish the job Wednesday.
Cam Schlittler: 6⅓ innings · 10 strikeouts · 2 hits · 1 walk · 0 earned runs
Ben Rice: 4-for-5 · 2 home runs · 1 double · 6 RBIs · 11 total bases
New York: 12 hits · 0 errors · 1 win from advancing
Cam sets the terms
Schlittler gave the Yankees 19 outs without allowing a run. Ten of those outs came by strikeout. He allowed just two hits and one walk, working through 117 pitches before handing the game to the bullpen.
My takeaway: that is the kind of start that lets an offense stay patient. New York did not need to chase a crooked number immediately. Cam gave the lineup time to build a lead, and Boston never got a breakthrough.
Rice turns a lead into a statement
Rice's night had a little of everything: a double, a solo homer in the fifth, an RBI single in the seventh, and an eighth-inning grand slam that pushed the lead to 9–0. He finished with four hits and six RBIs.
The slam will own the highlight reel. The full performance deserves the attention. Rice contributed at multiple stages of the game, supplying both an insurance run and the swing that put the contest out of reach. His 11 total bases capture just how much damage he did.
What this means for Game 2
Wednesday, September 30 brings another night in the Bronx: 8 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium, with Max Fried versus Sonny Gray listed as the probable pitching matchup. NBC and Peacock are scheduled to carry the game. Probable starters remain subject to change.
My Game 2 watch list starts with Fried keeping Boston off the board early. At the plate, I want to see the Yankees make Gray work and create chances around Rice. If Boston pitches him more carefully after this performance, the hitters behind him need to turn those opportunities into runs.
A 9–0 opener earns confidence. Wednesday still requires a fresh performance. One more win sends New York through; a loss brings the series to a deciding Game 3.
Bring the Bronx with you
Big nights call for Bronx energy. Explore Flavor First Sports' Pinstripe Society lineup and the Bronx No. 99 varsity jacket for your next game-night fit.