Cam Schlittler pitched well enough to keep his team in the game, but poorly enough to bemoan his mistake.
In his fifth start, the Yankees rookie showed strength, particularly in stressful situations, although the game ended in a 5-3, 10-inning loss to the Astros in The Bronx on Friday.
The right-handed pitcher was only troubled by his third batter, as Jose Altuve silenced the boos from the crowd by launching a two-run homer on the first pitch he faced.
Schlittler consistently navigated out of danger (with some help from Cody Bellinger) the rest of the way.
“I’m still learning the ropes,” Schlittler said. His talent is evident, maintaining a 4.38 ERA across his initial 24 ²/₃ innings in Major League Baseball. “I’ve got things to improve on.”
His biggest focus: limiting the mistakes that are haunting him, this time arriving on the fifth pitch of the game.
Austin Wells called for a slider. Schlittler wanted to go sweeper instead, which is what he threw.
In retrospect, he thinks he should have thrown a fastball.
Altuve appeared to be waiting for an off-speed pitch and hammered the middle-of-the-plate breaking ball into the left field seats.
“That’s what he wanted,” said Schlittler, who threw more fastballs afterward to keep a solid Houston offense at bay.
The Astros threatened with rallies but managed to hit just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position against Schlittler. Their lone success was a fourth-inning single by Cam Smith while Taylor Trammell stood on second. Bellinger fielded the ball and delivered a perfect one-hop throw to Wells for his third assist of the season, catching Trammell just in time.
The Astros threatened again in the fifth, when Altuve doubled with one out.
Schlittler then forced Carlos Correa into a groundout and saw Christian Walker fly out near the right-center warning track, concluding his effort after 97 pitches with a sigh of relief.
“He found himself in jams occasionally, but overall, he pitched very well and delivered crucial pitches to keep us in the game,” manager Aaron Boone remarked.
Yerry De los Santos, who pitched 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings in relief, has allowed one earned run in his past 16 ¹/₃ innings.
Pitching reinforcements are taking steps back toward the team.
Sunday could be significant for Fernando Cruz and Ryan Yarbrough, who could each face hitters in live sessions at Somerset.
That is the plan for Cruz, who has been shelved since late June with a left oblique strain.
The valuable righty, who owns a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 33 innings, has thrown bullpen sessions but has yet to face hitters since hitting the injured list for a second time this season.
Yarbrough already has faced hitters once this week as he builds up from a right oblique strain that has kept him sidelined since June 18.
He might throw a live batting practice in Somerset and log two “ups,” or it is possible he will simply begin a rehab assignment that day, Boone said.
It is not clear whether the Yankees will use the lefty — who was solid in relief and a revelation when forced into the rotation — as a reliever or starter.
One more eventual relief option, Jonathan Loáisiga, is feeling better.
Boone was hopeful the righty, suffering from mid-back tightness that forced him to the injured list Sunday, would begin a throwing program Friday.
Trade-deadline addition Austin Slater, who played in three games and logged seven plate appearances before straining his hamstring running to first base, will be out for 4-6 weeks, Boone said.
The mid-level strain is projected to sideline the righty-hitting outfielder until early to mid September.
Saturday is Old-Timers’ Day, when the Yankees will hold their first alumni baseball game since 2019.
The event will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 2000 World Series championship club.
Mariano Rivera and Joe Torre are among the expected attendees, as well as first-time Old-Timers Roger Clemens, Alfonso Soriano and Jose Vizcaino.
The Yankees ask that fans be in their seats by noon for introductions.
