Cam Schlittler stars, José Caballero delivers as Yankees avoid skid in series-opening win at Rays

The Yankees avoided a three-game skid Monday when they started their four-game series at the Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-1 win.

1. Cam Schlittler sure did rebound from last Tuesday’s 9-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees’ right-handed starting pitcher allowed one run on four hits in a season-high-tying eight innings, striking out eight and throwing 101 pitches with 72 strikes. Not only did Schlittler (9-5, 2.01 ERA) bounce back from surrendering a career-high six runs in his season-low four innings against the sub-.500 Tigers, but he delivered one of his best outings as a Yankee. Entering next Saturday’s penultimate start of the first half as the projected starter for the 4:05 p.m. game at the Washington Nationals, Schlittler has returned to form.

2. What would the Yankees do without José Caballero? New York‘s seventh-batting shortstop homered twice to almost singlehandedly support Schlitter’s gem, a 2-for-3 effort that drove home four runs with the fifth inning’s three-run shot to end Griffin Jax‘s no-hit bid and give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. Caballero’s eighth-inning-starting solo shot, his 10th homer of the season, gave New York a bit more cushion before Schlittler’s scoreless bottom half. Caballero was the hero as he improved to slashing .249/.304/.407 with 16 RBI through 77 games this year.

3. For good measure, Ben Rice‘s ninth-inning-starting solo shot was the Yankees’ third hit and added breathing room. While New York’s only hits were home runs, will Rice following Caballero wake the bats up? New York struck out 17 times. Rice, who batted second and was the Yankees’ designated hitter, is slashing .267/.360/.565 with 25 homers and 57 RBI through 85 games.

   Advertisement

4. After losing nine of their past 10 games, the Yankees got a much-needed win that directly helps them in the American League East. They improve to 50-40 and three games behind the AL East-leading Rays (52-36) with three more chances. For New York to gain further ground, though, it will need better performances beyond its starting pitcher and one batter.

Cam Schlittler sure did rebound from last Tuesday’s 9-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees’ right-handed starting pitcher allowed one run on four hits in a season-high-tying eight innings, striking out eight and throwing 101 pitches with 72 strikes. Not only did Schlittler (9-5, 2.01 ERA) bounce back from surrendering a career-high six runs in his season-low four innings against the sub-.500 Tigers, but he delivered one of his best outings as a Yankee. Entering next Saturday’s penultimate start of the first half as the projected starter for the 4:05 p.m. game at the Washington Nationals, Schlittler has returned to form.

What would the Yankees do without José Caballero? New York‘s seventh-batting shortstop homered twice to almost singlehandedly support Schlitter’s gem, a 2-for-3 effort that drove home four runs with the fifth inning’s three-run shot to end Griffin Jax‘s no-hit bid and give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. Caballero’s eighth-inning-starting solo shot, his 10th homer of the season, gave New York a bit more cushion before Schlittler’s scoreless bottom half. Caballero was the hero as he improved to slashing .249/.304/.407 with 16 RBI through 77 games this year.

For good measure, Ben Rice‘s ninth-inning-starting solo shot was the Yankees’ third hit and added breathing room. While New York’s only hits were home runs, will Rice following Caballero wake the bats up? New York struck out 17 times. Rice, who batted second and was the Yankees’ designated hitter, is slashing .267/.360/.565 with 25 homers and 57 RBI through 85 games.

After losing nine of their past 10 games, the Yankees got a much-needed win that directly helps them in the American League East. They improve to 50-40 and three games behind the AL East-leading Rays (52-36) with three more chances. For New York to gain further ground, though, it will need better performances beyond its starting pitcher and one batter.

Caballero. If it were not for him, the Yankees likely would have suffered a painful loss and completely changed the narrative of this one.

New York and Tampa Bay continue their series with Tuesday’s 6:40 p.m. game.

Yankees right-handed pitcher Will Warren (7-3, 3.73 ERA) is set to start.