NEW YORK (AP) — Cam Schlittler overpowered the New York Mets in his Subway Series debut, carrying a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning as the New York Yankees breezed to a 5-2 victory Friday night at Citi Field.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. laced a two-run double off former Yankees closer Clay Holmes in a three-run third, and Ben Rice added his 14th homer in the ninth. Cody Bellinger had an RBI double and rookie Spencer Jones provided an RBI single for the Yankees,
who improved to 2-5 on their nine-game trip.
In the opener of a three-game series, Schlittler (6-1) struck out nine and walked two over 6 2/3 innings — keeping his AL-best ERA at 1.35 in his second major league season. He threw 106 pitches, his most in a regular-season game, and 71 were strikes.
The 25-year-old right-hander was in complete command until ex-Yankees slugger Juan Soto launched his 250th career homer on an 0-2 fastball leading off the seventh.
Fernando Cruz retired rookie A.J. Ewing with runners at second and third to end the inning, then worked a 1-2-3 eighth. David Bednar allowed an RBI single to Brett Baty in the ninth.
Other than Soto’s drive and Baty’s two-out single in the second, the light-hitting Mets, who have struggled against high velocity all season, were no match for Schlittler's 96-99 mph heat.
About the only trouble Schlittler encountered came in the form of a couple of sharp comebackers that dinged him on his left foot and calf before being converted into groundouts by his infielders.
Chisholm finished with three hits, a walk and a stolen base. Rice also had three hits and scored twice. Jones added an RBI single off reliever Austin Warren in the fifth.
Holmes (4-4) was charged with four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, raising his ERA from 1.86 to 2.39. He struck out eight and threw 95 pitches. The right-hander had lasted at least five innings and permitted no more than two runs in each of his first eight starts this season.
Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón (0-0, 6.23 ERA) pitches Saturday night, his second start this season after recovering from elbow surgery last October. He walked five over 4 1/3 innings Sunday at Milwaukee, allowing three runs and two hits.
The Mets had not announced a starter, although LHP David Peterson (1-4, 5.49) is expected to appear in bulk relief.
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