The New York Yankees took the first game of the Subway Series with a commanding 5-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field, powered by a stellar pitching debut from rookie Cam Schlittler and timely hitting from Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Schlittler, making his first start in the crosstown rivalry, was nearly unhittable. The 25-year-old right-hander carried a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning, striking out nine and walking just two over 6 2/3 innings. His ERA now sits at a sparkling 1.35, best in the American League, as he continues to dominate in his second big-league season. He threw 106 pitches—71 for strikes—and his 96-99 mph fastball had the Mets swinging helplessly all night.
The only blemish on Schlittler's line came in the seventh, when former Yankees slugger Juan Soto crushed his 250th career home run on an 0-2 fastball. But by then, the Yankees had already built a comfortable lead.
That lead came courtesy of a three-run third inning, highlighted by Chisholm's two-run double off former Yankees closer Clay Holmes. Chisholm finished with three hits, a walk, and a stolen base, looking every bit the dynamic sparkplug the Yankees envisioned when they acquired him. Ben Rice added his 14th homer of the season in the ninth, while Cody Bellinger chipped in with an RBI double and rookie Spencer Jones delivered an RBI single.
Holmes, who had been stellar in his first eight starts—never allowing more than two runs and lasting at least five innings each time—struggled for the first time this season. He was charged with four runs and seven hits over 4 1/3 innings, raising his ERA from 1.86 to 2.39.
Fernando Cruz provided crucial relief, stranding runners at second and third to end the seventh, then working a clean eighth. David Bednar allowed an RBI single to Brett Baty in the ninth, but the Mets never threatened to complete a comeback.
The win improved the Yankees to 2-5 on their nine-game road trip, and they'll look to build momentum Saturday night when left-hander Carlos Rodón takes the mound.
