Video summary
Cam Schlittler celebrated a significant 1-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox, describing it as an excellent win for his team in what remains a tight division race. The game was defined by Schlittler's dominant pitching performance, which included holding the opposing batters to just two hits while recording eight strikeouts and allowing only five walks. Although he expressed some frustration regarding the walks, feeling that he beat himself slightly on those occasions, he emphasized his trust in his defense, which successfully limited further damage and secured the shutout. Schlittler noted that being able to pull through with such a narrow margin of victory in a close race feels like a great accomplishment for the entire squad.
The win was particularly meaningful given Schlittler's impressive season statistics, as he passed the 200 strikeout mark during this game and has now recorded one or zero earned runs in all twenty of his starts this year. While he acknowledged that winning a championship remains the ultimate goal rather than simply hitting specific statistical milestones, achieving these numbers provides a great feeling and helps the team win games. Schlittler also highlighted the crucial role of his bullpen, praising the trio of Hendrick, Paul, and Benar for coming up big when needed. He explained that relying on such a strong relief corps behind him acts as a significant confidence booster, allowing him to feel secure even if he does not complete a full six innings, knowing his teammates can bail him out and make quality pitches.
Beyond the mound, Schlittler reflected on the team's strong defense and the leadership of teammate Aaron Judge, whom he considers a great guy to have in his corner. Judge's clutch performance with limited bats helped seal the win, and Schlittler expressed pride in their bond within the clubhouse. When asked about competing for the Cy Young Award against peers like Gerrit Cole, Schlittler maintained a focused mindset on doing his job to put the team in a position to win rather than obsessing over stats or comparisons. He recognized that while the race is close and the award is wide open, factors like opponent performance are not within his control, so he concentrates on maintaining his velocity and delivering quality starts throughout the game.
Looking ahead, Schlittler remains optimistic about the team's chances despite the current standings, noting that the division is still wide open with games against Tampa Bay and Boston looming. He expressed satisfaction with separating themselves from Boston this weekend but acknowledged the frustration of last year's tie finish, vowing to ensure such a result does not happen again. Schlittler also touched on his recent velocity, attributing it partly to adrenaline and pride in maintaining speed through the later innings, which gives him faith to challenge hitters effectively. With three more important games remaining against Boston and a significant series against Tampa Bay down the road, he believes the team has a real opportunity to make a deep playoff run if they can continue to perform well and avoid costly mistakes.
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Cam Aaron Boone called this a great win
for this team. How do you look at this
game?
>> Yeah, 100%. It's a great win. I mean,
close division race and and you know,
we're able to pull through there, you
know, one- nothing. That's it's a great
win.
>> Hold them to only two hits, the five
walks and eight strikeouts. When you
look at your night, what comes to mind?
>> Walks are obviously frustrating. Um feel
like I just beat myself there a little
bit, but again, being able to, you know,
limit the damage, trust the defense
behind me, and they're able to bail me
out.
>> We know you're talking about the team
win. You pass 200 strikeouts. Now you
have 20 starts this year of one earned
run or no earned runs. How do you
evaluate your season even though it's
not finished yet?
>> Yeah, it's been good so far. Obviously,
there's a lot of ball left to play and
and the goals win a championship. So,
whatever I can do to help this team win
games and that means, you know, putting
up those numbers, that's a great
feeling. So, end of the day, there's
there's a lot of, you know, a lot left
baseball to play.
>> How about the bullpen behind you again
coming up big?
>> Yeah, they're amazing.
>> Bullpen's been amazing this year. So,
Hendrick gets out of the jam there. Paul
comes in, Benar slams the door. Um, you
know, that trio has been been really
good this year.
>> How does it make you feel when you come
out of a game somewhat early there to
have a bullpen like that behind you?
>> For sure. Again, it's frustrating not
get through six there, but sometimes
that's just how the game goes. And just
being able to rely on those guys and you
know that they're going to be able to
bail you out and make good pitches and
get outs. It's uh definitely a
confidence booster.
>> Defense this year.
>> He's been great. You know, obviously you
miss him for a little bit there and you
know, it's great to have him back. He
makes a great throw on a on a great
runner and uh that changes the whole
game right there.
>> And was 200 strikeouts a goal for you
this year? What does that mean to you?
>> Um
I wouldn't say it was necessarily a
goal. I think the goal just just based
off the postseason last year is
obviously to win a championship and um
that's a great accolade to to get.
Obviously not many guys do it. So yeah,
it's a great feeling and there's a lot
of ball left to play.
>> You have a great record against Boston.
How much does it mean to you to beat
them again? Do you expect some extra
mail for beating them again?
>> Again, I feel like wasn't my sharpest
today. Wasn't my sharpest last time in
Boston. Um I think ain't good enough to
to get the win there and um they got a
great lineup. Again, I was able to meet
those guys and in Philly and Terres,
Raphael, they're really good dudes. So,
um I know some of the guys over there
from from the minor league, you know,
side of it, too, when they were with the
Yankees. So, um, you know, I respect
them and they got a great team, so
they've been playing really well. So,
it's good to go out there, get the win
today, and got three more important
ones.
>> What's your biggest takeaway from being
a teammate to Gold Schmidt, uh, watching
him on and off the field?
>> He's great. Obviously, he's a leader in
this clubhouse and, um, feel like I've
been able to bond over him, you know,
with him pretty well, you know, this
season. And, you know, he's treated me
very well, and he's a good guy to have
in your corner. So him come out clutch
there with with limited bats and and
give us the win there. It's uh should be
a great feeling for him.
>> What would Sai Young mean to you? You
currently I would say the leader
Ce is doing pretty well as well.
>> Yeah, he's a great player. Um it's going
to be a close race. Again, I mean when
you look at it, it's not always, you
know, the main goal, but I think with
where we're at in the season, that's not
an issue to to try and chase that. and
um and I go out there and I do my job
and put this team in a position to win,
then you know that goal is is obviously
wide open there.
>> Are you looking to see what he's doing?
Kind of look at his stats and compare it
all.
>> It's non-controllable for me. Um again,
like he's a great player and um he's had
an amazing year. So, it's not anything I
can control. So for me, it's just
focusing on this team and and focusing
on myself and making sure I'm going out
there and trying to, you know, rack up
quality starts.
>> A great win. How much of that is in the
context of the division where you're at
right now?
>> Yeah, I mean, I think the division's
wide open. You know, Tampa's got a
couple games on us. Boston's right
behind us. You know, I think we separate
ourselves from Boston this weekend. You
know, puts itself in a good spot and
then we got a really big series against
Tampa, you know, down the road. So, it's
wide open. I think we had a good
opportunity last year and now obviously
ends in a tie there and that's
frustrating. We got to make sure we put
ourselves in a position where that
doesn't happen again
pretty hard that first six pitches 100
plus. Is that just adrenaline? Is that
you feeling good or
>> probably the seven day? Maybe that
correlates to the walks too, but again
like um I take pride in in in the
velocity I have and being able to
maintain that and I think it's more
important to you know have that VO as
the game goes on and again it's always
good to go out there and throw hard and
uh you know challenge hitters but
the velocity is something that gives me
you know faith in there to go out there
and just throw the ball and as long as
it's still there in the sixth inning
seventh inning that's really all that
matters.