Ben Rice Powers Yankees to Successful Road Trip

SEATTLE – Cam Schlittler delivered another masterful pitching performance, reminiscent of his breakout game in last October’s American League Wild Card Series, leading the New York Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. This win capped off an impressive 5-1 season-opening road trip, one of the Yankees’ best starts in the last two decades.

Schlittler’s Dominance Continues

The 25-year-old right-hander struck out seven batters over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, retiring the final 15 hitters he faced. “The biggest thing is just pitching with a lead, making sure I’m taking care of what I need to do, being efficient,” Schlittler explained. “Limiting the walks, hits and strikeouts is a good way to put the team in a position to win.” He touched 98.2 mph with his fastball, showcasing his impressive velocity and control. Cam Schlittler is the first Yankee to begin a season with back-to-back starts of at least five scoreless innings and seven strikeouts.

Rice Adds Late-Game Power

While Schlittler commanded the mound, the Yankees’ offense provided crucial support. Paul Goldschmidt launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning, and Ben Rice added a ninth-inning blast, providing insurance runs. Rice has been a consistent force at the plate, reaching base safely in each of his first five games with seven hits in 17 at-bats (.412).

“A couple of bounces went my way,” Rice said. “I think the quality of the at-bats overall has been good.”

Yankees’ Run Prevention a Key Factor

The Yankees’ success on this road trip has been largely attributed to their exceptional run prevention. They’ve allowed only six runs in their first six games, the third-fewest in MLB history during that span (trailing only the 1915 Phillies and 2002 Giants, who each allowed five).

“It’s a good week for us, but we know there’s probably still six months to go,” Goldschmidt said. “We’ve talked about doing the little things, playing the game and making those plays. It isn’t always about hitting a homer. Hopefully those things will pay off.”

Looking Ahead

The Yankees will now return to the Bronx, where they will host the Miami Marlins in their home opener on Friday. After a demanding spring and West Coast swing, the team is eager to play in front of their home fans.

“I think this team as a whole, we’re just feeding off each other and rolling with it,” Schlittler said. “To take the series here is a good feeling, and we’ll go home confident to play on Friday.”