In a highly anticipated pitchers' duel between two young stars destined to anchor their teams' rotations for years, 22-year-old Trey Yesavage of the Toronto Blue Jays edged out 25-year-old Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees, leading the Jays to a much-needed 2-1 victory at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.
Both pitchers were nearly unhittable through the first six innings, with the game deadlocked at 0-0. Yesavage was dominant, allowing just two hits and striking out eight, including three strikeouts of Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Schlittler was equally impressive, but the Jays managed a few more hits against him.
The breakthrough came in the top of the seventh inning. With Yesavage already in the dugout after his night ended, Schlittler returned to the mound. Ernie Clement started the rally with a swinging bunt down the third base line. Jesus Sanchez followed with a five-pitch walk, a rarity for the free-swinging Sanchez. Catcher Brandon Valenzuela then executed a textbook sacrifice bunt that went for a base hit, loading the bases. Schlittler then walked Andres Gimenez, forcing in the go-ahead run. The Jays added another run on a Vladdy Guerrero Jr. sacrifice fly to deep right field.
The Yankees got one back in the ninth inning against Louis Varland, but the Jays' closer finished the game for his sixth save. Yesavage improved to 2-1 with the victory, while Schlittler, an early frontrunner for the American League Cy Young Award, fell to 6-2.
Yesavage has been brought along slowly by the Jays this season, and the strategy appears to be paying off. He looked as sharp as he did during last year's playoff run, when Jays fans across Canada fell in love with his pitching. The Yankees rarely get manhandled in their own ballpark, but Yesavage did just that, allowing only one hard-hit ball all night.
The Blue Jays will now look to their bullpen to secure a split in the series after dropping the first two games. Rookie Spencer Miles is expected to carry the bulk of the bullpen load. The Yankees will counter with Carlos Rodon (0-1, 5.63 ERA), who does not have a good history against the Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
