He won’t occupy quite the same infamy that Yankees Bucky Dent or Aaron Boone do in Red Sox history.
But on the 47th anniversary of the 1978 one-game playoff, Cam Schlittler left a new scar on Boston sports fans as the Yankees eliminated the Red Sox from the playoffs on Thursday.
Not with one single blow like Boone or Dent. Instead, Schlittler spent eight surgical innings taking the Red Sox apart. With every 100-mile-per-hour fastball, every strikeout, and every scoreless frame, he dismantled every hope the Red Sox had of a deep postseason run.
Some Red Sox fans will take a little comfort that at least it was a Massachusetts kid having success at their team’s expense, while for others Schlittler’s Walpole and Northeastern University roots will only make the 4-0 loss sting more.
The Red Sox’s unglued bottom of the fourth inning will get its deserved scrutiny. Would the game have been different if either outfielder got to the leadoff double that was placed better than it was hit, starting a chain reaction that led to four runs?
Maybe.
But in reality, it didn’t matter. The Red Sox couldn’t do anything against the 24-year-old, who dashed the hopes of the team he grew up rooting for. If the Red Sox couldn’t score, they weren’t going to win anyway.
“We needed to be perfect tonight, because he was perfect,” Alex Cora said. “The stuff is outstanding. He was under control. That was electric.”
Whether the Walpole kid is a one-hit wonder or taking his first steps toward Monument Park, on the second night of October in 2025, he was brilliant.
Even after the game, Schlittler seemed unfazed by what he’d just accomplished.
“Being in control of all of my pitches and being able to mix that. Once I got past the first, second inning, I was able to get a rhythm,” Schlittler said. “I woke up, and I was locked in. I knew exactly what I needed to do and go out there, especially against my hometown team. As I told Andy (Pettite) yesterday, I wasn’t going to let them beat me.”
As good as Garrett Crochet was in Game 1, Schlittler was better in Game 3. In hindsight, the Red Sox would have rather faced Gerrit Cole.
Schlittler struck out 12 and didn’t walk anybody, while scattering five hits. He not only didn’t give up any runs, he was never even really threatened.
“He just didn’t make it more than it was, but also realized the importance of it. And, you know, when you throw 100 and command the baseball and can land your secondary pitches, you can be a problem for the opposition,” said Boone of the pitcher, who might have saved his job. ” That’s what he is capable of. And obviously efficient enough to get through eight innings there. I am not surprised, honestly.”
His challenge now will be matching that dominance next week against Toronto and beyond after the New York media spends the next two days fawning over the fresh-faced kid, who ended Boston’s 20-year run of head-to-head payoff dominance.
But no matter what happens from here, he’s stamped himself into the lore of this rivalry forever.
Making it worse for the Red Sox is that he’s only 24. They’ll be facing him several times a year for years to come. Each time will be a reminder of Oct. 2, 2025, when his dominant effort ended their once-promising season.
“Just 100 mph, great feel for the zone, great feel for his off-speed pitches,” Aaron Judge said. “I knew going into tonight’s game he was going to be locked in and ready to go. Ever since he’s come up here, he’s been a superstar for us.”