Cam Schlittler withstood five walks in 5 2/3 innings and the New York Yankees turned a pair of outfield double plays during a 1-0 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
Paul Goldschmidt homered off Boston starter Patrick Sandoval (1-3) in the third inning, helping the Yankees move three games ahead of Boston for the American League’s top wild-card spot.
Schlittler (12-6) tied a career high by issuing five walks for the third time, allowed two hits, struck out eight, and lowered his AL-leading ERA to 2.09. He allowed a double to Wilyer Abreu with two outs in the third, then struck out Willson Contreras. Schlittler also surpassed 200 strikeouts for the season, the first time he’s reached that mark.
He allowed a single to Ceddanne Rafaela in the fifth but kept the game scoreless thanks to center fielder Trent Grisham. Grisham caught Abreu’s line drive, threw to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the second baseman’s throw to Goldschmidt at first completed the double play.
With one out in the seventh, the Red Sox had runners on second and third against Paul Blackburn. Contreras hit a fly ball to left fielder Cody Bellinger. Bellinger moved in a few steps and made a perfect one-hop throw to catcher Austin Wells, who tagged out Rafaela as Rafaela fell to the dirt.
Goldschmidt gave the Yankees the lead with his first homer since July 24 when he hit Sandoval’s first-pitch sinker into the left field bleachers.
Schlittler exited after walking Caleb Durbin and the Red Sox deployed three right-handed pinch hitters against lefty Brent Headrick. Jahmai Jones walked and Eli White hit a slow infield single to load the bases. After Headrick fell behind Andrew Monasterio and reached a full count, the inning ended with a fly ball to right fielder Heliot Ramos.
Sandoval loaded the bases with consecutive walks to Ramos and Trent Grisham, then was replaced by Greg Weissert. Weissert kept it a one-run game by fanning Jazz Chisholm Jr. with a high fastball.
After Bellinger’s sixth outfield assist ended the seventh, Blackburn pitched a perfect eighth and David Bednar recorded a 1-2-3 ninth for his 31st save.
Sandoval allowed one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked four.
The Red Sox fell to 10-10 in their past 20 games following a 32-5 run that included a four-game sweep of the Yankees in Boston and a 15-game winning streak.
