Kirk gets the Jays on the board!
Instant Reaction: Cam Schlittler quiets Blue Jays bats as Yankees take series opener
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Aug 21, 2026, 22:13 EDT
Cam Schlittler and the New York Yankees had their way with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.
Backed by six strong innings from Schlittler, the Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 3-1 in the series opener at Yankee Stadium and dropped the club to 63-67 through 130 games played.
After Spencer Arrighetti replaced opener Mason Fluharty in the bottom of the first inning, he returned for the bottom of the second and the Yankees got to him. Trent Grisham worked a leadoff walk before Spencer Jones slugged his seventh home run of the season by slamming a 2-1 cutter from Arrighetti 385 feet over the right field foul pole to make it 2-0.
As Schlittler continued to put up zeroes, the Yankees were able to push another run across the plate. George Lombard Jr. worked a leadoff single before Grisham walked to set up runners on first and second with nobody out.
Jones bounced a soft ground ball to Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Valenzuela to set up runners on first and second with one out. Shortstop José Caballero stepped up and lifted a sacrifice fly to centre field to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
Arrighetti’s Blue Jays debut ended after he turned in a pitching line of 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. The 26-year-old now has pitched in 18 games (17 starts) this season between both the Houston Astros and Blue Jays and holds a 7-6 record with a 4.73 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.
The Blue Jays struck back in the top of the fifth as Alejandro Kirk continued his hot streak. Following a leadoff double from Brett Bateman, Kirk bounced a 1-2 fastball from Schlittler past Jazz Chisholm Jr. to give the Blue Jays their first run of the evening.
Schlittler returned for the top of the sixth and worked a clean inning to end his night. The 25-year-old turned in a pitching line of 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, to improve his season totals to 11-6 with a 2.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through 27 starts.
Yankees relievers Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar combined to shut out the Blue Jays over the final three innings. Bednar picked up his 30th save in the victory and lowered his season ERA to 2.35.
After Arrighetti’s bulk role, the Blue Jays used Brendon Little, Braydon Fisher, Paul Sewald, and Simeon Woods Richardson to close out the final four innings of Friday’s contest. Each reliever worked one inning, so all four should be available Saturday afternoon.
Woods Richardson has been impressive across his first six games since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins. The 25-year-old has gone 2-0 with a 0.55 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP across 16.1 innings pitched. The right-hander has struck out 12 batters and held opponents to a .157 average during that span.
Looking to bounce back Saturday, the Blue Jays will turn to right-hander Dylan Cease. The Yankees counter with left-hander Ryan Weathers, who held the Blue Jays to one run over 7.1 innings last Sunday.
First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.
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