In a Must-Win game for the Yankees, Cam Schlittler rose to the occasion and pitched a GEM — 8 innings of 4-hit, 1-run ball, striking out 8 with 0 walks — in leading NY to a 5-1 win over the 1st-place Rays on a Monday night in Tampa.
NY — losers of 9 of their last 10 coming in — pulls back within 3 games of the Rays.
Amazingly, the Yankees only got 3 hits on the evening — and they produced the 5 runs: a 3-run HR by Jose Caballero after 2 walks in the 5th, a solo HR by Caballero in the 8th, and a solo HR by Ben Rice in the 9th.
David Bednar closed it with a non-agita, 1-2-3 inning in the 9th.
Schlittler was coming off his worst start of his career so far — allowing 6 runs in 4 innings against Detroit.
Meanwhile, Caballero used to be the shortstop for Tampa, and was traded to NY at the trade deadline last year.
“It was huge,” said manager Aaron Boone about Schlittler’s performance. “I’m not surprised. And I’m not surprised he bounced back from arguably his worst outing of his young career against the Tigers. He was great; he was dominant; he was efficient; and great way to get the road trip started.”
“It is a special night; always come in here to Tampa gets me going. I’m happy I could deliver for my team,” said Caballero afterwards. “The atmosphere here; good memories here; I always enjoy coming back. And obviously facing my old teammates is always good.”
NY improves to 50-40. Tampa falls to 52-36. There are 3 games left in this 4-game series.
1. Schlittler Throws GEM in Crucial Game
Cam Schlittler was ON HIS GAME — throwing his 4 fastballs and with his 4-seamer up at 99 MPH.
He threw retired 12 of the first 13 batters — allowing only a 1-out infield single in the 2nd while pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th.
Seated for The Schlitt Show ?@MLBPS_US x #RepBX pic.twitter.com/W72ySP5nRe
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 7, 2026
Given a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th — Schlittler allowed a 1-out infield single to Chandler Simpson and 2-out RBI single to Palacios in the 5th to make it 3-1.
But he roared back from that — striking out the first 2 of the 6th in a 1-2-3 inning, and threw down a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th as well.
By the top of the 8th he was up 4-1, and allowed a 1-out single before getting a strike out and pop out to end his evening. He wins to go 9-5 2.01.
2. Caballero 3-Run HR in 5th Puts NY Up 3-0
Tampa started Griffin Jax, a 31-year-old, 6’2 righthander who came up with the Twins as a starter but spent most of his career there as a reliever. The Rays have turned him back into a starter this season and he came in at 4-5 3.45.
He retired the first 13 batters of the game — striking out the side in the 2nd — and was throwing a Perfect Game with 1 out in the 5th when Jasson Dominguez worked a 6-pitch walk.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. then worked a 5-pitch walk to put 2 on for Jose Caballero, who fouled off a 2-2, 96-MPH fastball then clobbered a 90-MPH changeup for a 3-run HR, 395 feet to left center. NY 3 Tampa 0.
Cabby for three ?? pic.twitter.com/pETWjOJZrl
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 6, 2026
“Obviously some huge at bats,” said Boone about Jose Caballero’s big HR’s. “Especially what we’ve been going thru as a team offensively. And Jax was throwing the ball really, really well. He was really tough. A couple of good at bats by JD and Jazz to set the table, and big swing by Cabbie.”
3. Caballero HR in 8th Puts NY Up 4-0
Jax left after 5 innings. Tampa brought Sulser for the 6th — and he pitched a 1-2-3 shutout inning. Tampa brought in Legumina for the 7th — and he pitched a 1-2-3 shutout inning.
And they brought in Roycroft for the 8th — but Jose Caballero greeted him by hitting a 3-2, 96-MPH sinker 398 feet to left center for a 4-1 Yankee lead.
It’s like déjà vu all over again ? pic.twitter.com/lmZLrH0293
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 7, 2026
4. Rice HR in 9th Puts NY Up 5-0
Roycroft stayed in for the bottom of the 8th — and Ben Rice led off the inning by hitting a 96-MPH sinker 400 feet to right center for a 5-1 Yankee lead.
Rice ‘n’ Easy ? pic.twitter.com/pc3azKTrzK
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 7, 2026
5. Bednar the Non-Agita Close
David Bednar pitched the 9th — and set down the Rays 1-2-3 — line out, strike out, fly out — for the old ballgame.
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