Yankees legend: ‘A star (was) born’ on national stage against Red Sox

In an elimination game against the rival Red Sox, Aaron Boone didn’t tap into his bullpen until the ninth inning.

And he may not have had to go there at all.

Rookie Cam Schlittler, the 6-foot-6 native of Walpole, Mass. who grew up a Red Sox fan, put on a brilliant performance, striking out 12, scattering five hits and walking none across eight innings as the Yankees eliminated the Red Sox, 4-0, to win the series 2-1. He touched 100.8 mph in the third inning.

It was New York’s first postseason win over Boston since Boone’s walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series.

“The adrenaline you’re feeling right now and the satisfaction of coming through for your teammates, there’s nothing like it,” former Yankees ace David Cone said on ESPN of what Schlittler was feeling as he wound down his outing.

“And on the national stage a star is born.”

In a performance reminiscent of a young Josh Beckett, Schlittler’s 12 strikeouts were the most by a Yankees rookie in franchise history, surpassing Dave Righetti’s 10. It was the fourth-most strikeouts by a rookie in MLB postseason history, per ESPN.

The Red Sox put one runner on second base during the game.

No pitcher had ever thrown eight-plus innings with 12-plus strikeouts, zero runs allowed and zero walks in a postseason game, per StatHead’s Katie Sharp.

“Feeling good,” Schlittler told ESPN’s Buster Olney. “Win-or-go home situation, just happy to be able to help the team and get the win and go to Toronto.”

Asked how he felt coming off the field with the crowd going crazy after the eighth inning, he said, “Yeah, it was great. I wasn’t sure I was going to get back out there for the eighth, so for Booney let me to take that chance, it felt great. Obviously, the crowd was electric.”

Told he put up historic numbers, Schlittler said: "It’s great, obviously you’re not chasing those things but I’ll take it in tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”

David Bednar closed out the ninth inning, meaning the Yankees bullpen will be fresh heading into the Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

“Incredible, incredible,” Aaron Judge told Olney of Schlittler. “Ever since he’s come up here, he’s been a superstar for us. Just 100 mph, great feel for the zone, great feel for his off-speed pitches...I knew going into tonight’s game he was going to be locked in and ready to go.”

Schlittler and fellow rookie Connelly Early of the Red Sox both looked unfazed in the first couple of innings before the Yankees exploded for a 4-0 lead in the fourth and chased the left-hander.

Amed Rosario, Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells all had RBIS in the inning.

Defensively, Ryan McMahon pulled a Derek Jeter by sprinting to catch a foul ball in the eighth inning and flipping over the railing into the Red Sox dugout to catch the ball.

Yet the story of the night was Schlittler, who mowed down the team he grew up rooting for.

“I mean, it’s important, right?” he said. “A lot of noise before the game, a lot of people reaching out, good and bad ways. So just being a silent killer and just being able to go out there and shut them down.”

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