Cam Schlittler continued a string of dominance for Yankees starters and Paul Goldschmidt's homer provided enough offense as New York defeated the Mariners, 5-3, on Wednesday afternoon in Seattle to pick up the series win.
The Yankees (5-1) have now won both series to start the season. Yankees starters have also allowed just one run in the team's first six games.
Here are the takeaways...
-Yankees starters entered Wednesday's game allowing just one run through the first five games, but the Mariners lineup threatened Schlittler in the first. Brendan Donovan hit a leadoff double, but the young right-hander struck out Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez before getting Josh Naylor to fly out to end the threat.
After allowing a one-out hit in the second, Schlittler retired 11 straight batters and was through five innings, throwing just 55 pitches. He'd extend that streak to 14 batters through six innings. The only thing that could get to Schlittler was his pitch count, which was limited considering he is still being built up.
Schlittler tossed 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, no walks and striking out seven batters. He threw 79 pitches (58 strikes).
In his first two starts, Schlittler has thrown 11.2 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts, and has allowed only three baserunners (all hits).
-With a varied lineup, the Yankees got to George Kirby early. Cody Bellinger worked a two-out walk and stole second, and Ben Rice -- starting as the DH -- lined a double down the right field line to give the Yankees an early 1-0 lead.
Goldschmidt, starting at first base, broke the game open in the sixth with a two-out, three-run bomb off of Kirby.
-In relief of Schlittler, the Yankees bullpen did its job. Fernando Cruz got the two outs to finish the seventh for Schlittler before Camilo Doval -- who has dominated early on -- pitched into trouble. He allowed back-to-back one-out singles to put runners on the corners. Doval struck out Leo Rivas but walked Donovan to load the bases for Raleigh.
Manager Aaron Boone pulled Doval for David Bednar, but the Yankees closer couldn't get the MVP runner-up, as the Mariners backstop dumped a two-run single to cut their lead to 4-2. Bednar would get Rodriguez to strike out on a 2-2 splitter to preserve the lead. It was a seven-pitch AB for Rodriguez that Bednar won.
Bednar would allow a run in the ninth on two hits, but eventually locked down his third save of the season after tossing 40 pitches (27 strikes).
-Rice would get one of those runs back in the ninth with a leadoff solo shot, his first of the season.
Game MVP: Cam Schlittler
It took a bit for the Yankees offense to get going, but Schlittler held down the Mariners long enough for that Goldschmidt bomb.
Highlights
Ben Rice opens the scoring as Cody Bellinger scores! pic.twitter.com/W9qkalcB99
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 1, 2026
A 3-run homer for Paul Goldschmidt! pic.twitter.com/b2k6KezRJc
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 1, 2026
Cam Schlittler is DEALING pic.twitter.com/6tgDriRhWP
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 1, 2026
What's next
The Yankees are off Thursday before heading back to the Bronx for their home opener. They'll take on the upstart Miami Marlins for a three-game series starting Friday at 1:35 p.m.
Will Warren will take the mound for his second start this season and will be up against Eury Perez.