Heroes and zeros from the Yankees’ 4-0 series-clinching Game 3 win over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.
Hero
In early June, Cam Schlittler was pitching with Double-A Somerset. In early October, the flame-throwing 24-year-old took the ball for an elimination game and buzzed through a Red Sox team that he grew up idolizing, throwing eight scoreless innings in which he struck out 12 — the most ever by a Yankees rookie in a playoff game.
Zero
Connelly Early, the 23-year-old rookie, held the Yankees to 1-for-9 the first time through the order.
The next time through the Yankees went 5-for-8 with a walk, exploding for four runs in the fourth inning to ensure Early’s night ended early.
Unsung hero
David Bednar, pitching for a third straight night in the first postseason of his career, bore down and recorded the final three outs.
Key stat: 1
The Yankees became the one and only team to lose Game 1 of the wild-card round and win the series, Game 1 losers now 1-for-16.
Quote of the night
“People from Boston had a lot to say before the game, so for me, just being a silent killer, being able to go out there and shut them down.”
— Cam Schlittler